Oleksandr Turchynov: The decision on the subsequent wave of mobilization will be taken in March, in case if there are a sufficient number of contract servicemen the terms may be rescheduled

Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov informed that the decision on whether to announce the subsequent wave of mobilization in spring will be taken in March.

"It is crucially important for us to have a strong efficient Army, ready to be victorious. And certainly, the bulk of this Army has to do its military service on professional basis. The bigger precisely the professional component is the more efficient are actions of troops. This is an axiom and I think no one will argue with this" - NSDC Secretary of Ukraine told in an exclusive interview to "Interfax-Ukraine" agency on Wednesday.

According to him, in order to reinforce the professional component in the Army, despite all economic challenges, the Ukrainian authorities has gone for a significant increase in the defense budget in 2016. "At least 7 thousand - this is a contract serviceman, who gets on the position of a common soldier. This is the minimum, which those who sign the contract are to receive in the Armed Forces and in National Guard. And those, who serve in the area of ATO, who takes part in hostilities, should receive also the additional bonuses", - Mr. Turchynov said.

According to him, exactly such steps contributed to a sharp increase in the quantity of those willing to sign a contract.

"March is our monitoring month for taking of a decision on mobilization. If we see that increase in the number of contract servicemen is sufficient to provide the required numerical force of our Army, we will take time with the mobilization and will use it as a reserve for the event of activation of Russian aggression", - the NSDC Secretary of Ukraine explained.

He also reminded that another reserve is the conscription into the Army. "The additional reserve, which we have, - it is our conscripts, young people, who are drafted for military service in the Army. But there is a clear directive here - conscripts don't serve in the area of ATO. The General Staff and the Ministry of Defense strictly adhere to this principle", - NSDC Secretary of Ukraine said.

At that, he assured that the demobilization will take place precisely within the established terms. "Our task is to achieve that most of demobilized troopers would be replaced by professionals, thereby enhancing, but not decreasing the combat potential of our Army", - Mr. Turchynov concluded.