Yatsenyuk says budget spending on defense, security grows to almost $5 bln

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said during the "10 Minutes with the Prime Minister" weekly program broadcast by major TV channels on Sunday evening that the national budget for 2016 foresees that spending on national security and defense should be increased to UAH 113 billion, or $4.88 billion at the current forex rate.

The Ukrainian premier says that UAH 74 million had been allocated for the anti-corruption prosecutor's office, and almost UAH 500 million would be given to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau.

The largest amount of the budget funds in 2016 will be spent on national security and defense, "on our soldiers who have been fighting against Russian military aggression, on our new police officers, on our National Guards – all those who are defending Ukraine, safeguarding our sovereignty and territorial integrity."

In 2016, the total amount of expenses on the entire national security and defense sector will be increased by UAH 16 billion, to UAH 113 billion.

"These funds will be funneled first of all into allowances of guardsmen, soldiers, police officers and border guards – every Ukrainian serviceman. We apply the following principle – the principle of a fair and equal approach to payment to every Ukrainian solider, fighter, policeman safeguarding peace and stability in the country," the premier said.

"A large portion of the funds will be spent on the upgrading and retrofitting of Ukraine's armed forces, namely on new hardware, equipment, training of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guards, and the National Police and the country's entire law-enforcement system," Yatsenyuk added.