Russia is planning to reduce the number of units in the Navy from 240 to 123 in line with military reform until 2016. The Pacific Fleet is the second largest fleet in the Russian Navy, after the Northern Fleet.
"During the current reform of the armed forces, the Pacific Fleet will cut 5,000 commissioned officers, warrant officers and NCOs in the next 3-4 years," the official said.
At present, the fleet has most of its troops deployed on the Kamchatka Peninsula and in the Primorye Territory in Russia's Far East.
The Russian General Staff said in February that the Russian military would be more compact, more mobile and better equipped as a result of the reform.
The focus of the reform is the reorganization of the military command and control system from a four-tier (military district - army - division - regiment) to a three-tier structure (military district - operational command - brigade).
This also includes the reorganization of the Defense Ministry and the General Staff of the Armed Forces, downsizing commissioned officer personnel, and eliminating the NCO corps.
The Russian defense minister said last year the Armed Forces would total 1 million servicemen, including 150,000 officers by 2012.
Russia has already downsized its Armed Forces from 4.5 million in the Soviet era to about 1.2 million personnel, including 310,000 commissioned officers, at present.
