РНБОУ National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine

Oleksandr Turchynov after the NSDC meeting: Financial support of the country’s security and defense remains one of the top priorities of the budget policy for 2018

"Financial support of the country's security and defense remains one of the top priorities of the budget policy for 2018", - Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov said in his comment on the increase in the defense budget for the next year to 163 billion 268 million hryvnias.

"According to the decision of the NSDC of Ukraine, the financing of the defense and security budget for the next year will amount to 163 billion 268 million hryvnias, of which 156 billion 893 million will come from the general fund and 6 billion 375 million - from the special one", - Mr. Turchynov noted.

Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine stressed that one of the crucial issues of financing the security and defense sector is "the increase in monetary support for military servicemen, based on the rise of position salaries and salaries for military ranks".

"The priority area of budget financing also includes the creation of new types of weapons and military equipment, in particular, the production of modern high-precision missile and artillery arms, armored vehicles, ammunition, and high-precision weapons; implementation of the State target program of development and production of ammunition and special chemical products", - he added.

According to Oleksandr Turchynov, particular attention will also be paid to the intensive combat training of elements and units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations, as well as the state border management.

"Moreover, given the security situation, the priorities will include implementation of the state policy in the cybersecurity sphere, implementation of measures for the development and modernization of special communication and information security; implementation of the National Intelligence Program for 2016-2020; strengthening of counterintelligence protection and countering terrorism and subversive activities", - Mr. Turchynov pointed out.

Besides, the Concept of ensuring counterintelligence regime in Ukraine and the Concept of reforming and further development of the state management system in a state of emergency and a special period were considered and approved at the NSDC meeting.

Also, according to the NSDC Secretary, the issue "of the establishment and operation of the Supreme High Command General Headquarters as a strategic command body of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, other military formations and law-enforcement bodies during a special period" was resolved for the first time in our state.