“We have a clear understanding of what we need to do to accomplish the reforms in 2017”, Defense Minister of Ukraine General of the Army Stepan Poltorak said during the operational assembly of the Armed Forces command staff.

He said that currently 37 thousand troops were defending Ukraine on the frontline in Donbas area. The remaining personnel are on duty and in training centers sharing combat experience gained in ATO.

“We can defend Ukraine and do all job the Armed Forces have to. The 72th brigade in Avdiivka sets a good example of what our units are able to”, General of the Army Stepan Poltorak said.

Defense Minister thanked the President, who as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is not just watching development of the reforms, but leading them.

“Thanks to his position we can stay afloat despite the fact that it’s hard enough to undergo reforms during the war. I am proud that we have such a Supreme Commander who is not afraid to take responsibility and head our country at very difficult times,” Stepan Poltorak said.