Ukraine is Creating an Army of 250,000 People and a Cemetery for 250,000 Graves

Julia May for Vest-Ukr.com

On December 12, 2014, at the morning session of the Verkhovna Rada Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak said that the 2015 state budget of Ukraine allocated more than a billion hryvnia for the purchase of special communication system for Ukrainian Armed Forces, adding that overall 50 billion hryvnia was allocated for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

"Last year's budget for UAH amounted to 15 billion and 11 billion from the Reserve Fund," - he recalled. The modernization of the armed forces of Ukraine will cost 401 million hryvnia, the purchase of new equipment - 6.45 billion hryvnia.

The Defense Ministry also plans to work on the creation of new divisions, units and special operations forces.

Until the end of the year, in his words, the entire personnel of the Ministry of Defense will be recertified, including recertification of personnel at the Intelligence Directorate.

Previously Poltorak said about the need for the next wave of mobilization.

The forces of the Ukrainian army will be doubled next year, announced Poltorak.

According to him, last year the number of troops was 130 thousand, in 2015 the number is planned to increase up to 250 thousand troops.

Kristina Rus: Ukrainian government is very prudent, at the same time creating a cemetery for 250,000 graves

Translated by Kristina Rus for FortRuss.blogspot.com

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Novorossia Artillery Withdrawn Due to Ceasefire Can Return to Positions in 30 Minutes

Rusvesna

Armed vehicles remain on positions, withdrawn artillery can come back in 30 minutes

Militiaman "Cadet" talked about the withdrawal of the heavy artillery of Novorossia from the frontline:

"Yes, we began to withdraw the heavy artillery. Removed MRLS Grad and Hurricane and other artillery. Remaining - all armored vehicles, infantry and mortars.

Command ordered all units of NAF in the event if UAF does not pull out its heavy equipment within 5 days, to return to positions. In the case of an attack - to open fire at the enemy approaching positions, immediately to return the artillery into place.

The equipment already withdrawn can come back to positions in 30 minutes for MRLS, and an hour for the rest. The military situation - after Kolesnikovo there was no more fighting. The militia and UAF continued to dig in.

UAF has also brought reinforcements. According to our information at Cchastinskaya and Stanichno-Luganskaya formations the enemy concentrated all reserves of these groups directly on the line of contact. But in this area UAF and the militia have approximately equal number of troops.

And in terms of firepower and morale militia surpasses them. During the previous "ceasfire" ukry lost up to 700 people injured and dozens killed, and up to 95 units of armored vehicles in this area".

Translated by Kristina Rus for FortRuss.blogspot.com