Arsen Avakov: The 2018 defense budget of Ukraine provides for social protection of servicemen (PHOTO)
On August 30, 2017, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine discussed the defense budget of Ukraine for 2018. The state defense budget is based on the National Security Strategy of Ukraine.
The First Deputy Prime Minister Stepan Kubiv, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Arsen Avakov, the Minister of Finance of Ukraine Oleksandr Danilyuk, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Stepan Poltorak, the Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Hrytsak, heads of the National Guard of Ukraine, the National Police of Ukraine, intelligence agencies and other power structures contributed to the discussion.
"A distinctive feature of this defense budget is that every single penny planned has a real content, and for the first time its main financing will come from the general fund of the state budget and not from conditional credit guarantees. This general fund will amount to UAH156,4 billion, which equates to 5% of the Ukrainian gross domestic product. This sum will be allocated to cover expenses of the army, the National Guard, and law enforcement agencies. The special fund will be formed solely by proposals from the power ministries and institutions and will amount to UAH 6.3 billion. Thus, the total financing must be not less than UAH162,7 billion”, - the NSDC Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov said.
During the discussion of the 2018 state defense budget, the participants agreed that the budget plans should take into account the development of the Ukrainian defense industry, as well as need to improve the servicemen pay services and their social protection.
"Together with the heads of ministries and departments we worked on the defense budgeting for the next year. Certainly, this budget contains new indicators, but one of the key issues along with the servicemen pay services is the issue of social support and provision of housing for servicemen. The 2018 defense draft budget of Ukraine factors in the need for funds for the construction and purchase of housing in the amount of UAH350 million. Next year we should provide for another 1,000 apartments so that in three or four years we can nullify the queue for housing", - Arsen Avakov said.
After refinement of the 2018 defense budget figures, they will be approved by the meeting of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, which is to be held in early September this year.
Department of communication of MIA-Ukraine
