Oleksandr Turchynov: The NSDC of Ukraine has adopted a number of important decisions aimed at strengthening the security and defense sector

The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine has adopted a number of important decisions aimed at strengthening the country's defense and security. This was stated by Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov after the meeting of the Council.

According to Mr. Turchynov, the NSDC of Ukraine recommended that the Government and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine considerably increase the expenditures of financing the country's defense budget. "This decision was made on the basis of the situation in Ukraine and abroad, and it is connected with Russia's ongoing aggression against our state", - Mr. Turchynov said.

According to him, at the expense of increasing the revenue part of the general fund of the budget, it was proposed to increase financing of expenditures of the security and defense sector for the amount of around 3 billion hryvnias. "This includes the Ministry of Defense, the National Guard, intelligence, the National Police, as well as issues related to strengthening the cyberdefense of our country", - he noticed.

Oleksandr Turchynov also reported that the NSDC of Ukraine has decided to start financing the State Budget at the expense of confiscated financial resources of Viktor Yanukovich's entourage, which had been deposited in Ukrainian financial institutions. In particular, 6 billion hryvnias are proposed to spend on financing the security and defense sector in the procurement of armaments and military equipment, as well as programs for the procurement and production of ammunition.

According to Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine, within these resources, 1 billion hryvnias will be allocated to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine to finance a large-scale housing construction program for servicemen. It is also planned to direct resources for the development of advanced weapons and equipment.

"The NSDC of Ukraine considers it necessary to significantly increase financing of the State Border Guard Service, in particular, in border management and technical identification of persons crossing the border", - Mr. Turchynov added.

"Also, - he said, - the NSDC made a decision on the implementation of comprehensive measures to ensure reliable cyberdefense of information resources of state bodies, critical infrastructure, and the banking sector".

Oleksandr Turchynov also informed that after the meeting, the Government, the Security Service of Ukraine and the National Bank of Ukraine received a number of official instructions regarding the submission of proposals for the extension of the sanctions list, as both the US and the EU had decided to impose new sanctions on the Russian Federation.