Photo from UNIAN
There is an outflow of military personnel, including due to material issues, which can entail serious consequences for the combat readiness of the armed forces.
Ukrainian defense budget in 2019 should amount to at least UAH 119 billion (USD 4 billion), according to Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Viktor Muzhenko.
"We calculated that this should be about UAH 112 billion, which is the minimum required for the Army, while we are currently seeing the funding will be at UAH 82 billion. And this is clearly not enough to keep the Armed Forces combat-ready - and I'm not even talking about building up efficiency," Muzhenko told BBC Ukrainian Service.
According to the military official, outflow of military personnel is being observed, including because of material problems, which can have serious consequences for the combat readiness of the armed forces.
Read alsoUkraine's defense ministry to raise military pay
Muzhenko explained that because of his resignation, new contractors are being recruited, which must be re-trained. "And after a certain time, they quit. We need to maintain the powerful core of the Armed Forces, then it will contribute to strengthening the Army's effectiveness," he stressed.
"Our research shows that the basic wage for the military should be at UAH 15,000, but we now have UAH 7,000. This figure should at least double, and then it will be a decent level of material compensation for all those inconveniences and stress they are experiencing," said Muzhenko.
At the same time, the chief of the General Staff assured that the issue does not affect the situation at the front line, because cash payments to soldiers at the front are much larger.