31 Mar 2015 15:29

Ukraine dramatically increases military expenditure to stay independent - Poroshenko

CHERNIHIV. March 31 (Interfax) - Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Ukraine has considerable increased the funding allocated for defense this year.

"We have dramatically increased our defense expenditures. Over 90 billion hryvni is included in the Ukrainian budget for this year to keep our country independent," the president said in a meeting with the administration of the Chernihiv regional state administration on Tuesday.

Poroshenko also mentioned volunteers who are helping strengthen the defense potential of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Poroshenko said 80% of Ukrainians are involved in volunteer work and volunteers have been appointed to "the areas most at risk for corruption" in the Defense Ministry by way of an experiment.