Arseniy Yatsenyuk: The Government offers to increase the Armed Forces up to 250 thousand

The Government of Ukraine submits to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine a draft law on an increase of the total personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine up to 250 thousand. Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk announced at a Government meeting on Wednesday, January 21.

He stressed that the Cabinet of Ministers proposes to increase the maximum quantity of the Armed Forces of Ukraine by 68 thousand – up to 250 thousand people, with 204 thousand military personnel out of this number.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk explained this decision would be financed by the Government.

The Prime Minister reminded that overall financing of the national security and defence in the current year makes up UAH 90 billion, "This is a record number that exceeds the gross domestic product by 5.2%. Budget 2015 is a defence and military budget."

Arseniy Yatsenyuk appealed to the Ukrainian Parliament with a request to pass the relevant bill during the next plenary session.