Ukraine's second president Leonid Kuchma, a former manager in Ukraine's aerospace industry, and incumbent President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko have discussed the problematic situation at state enterprise Pivdenne Design Bureau (Dnipropetrovsk). Kuchma says he hopes Poroshenko's intervention will resolve outstanding issues.

"I will refrain from specific comments because I discussed the issue with President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko. I hope the head of state will react correspondingly," Kuchma said.

Kuchma noted with regret that in recent years Ukraine has learned how to create new and high-tech equipment, but not how to preserve the equipment the plant inherited.

"To break is not to build. The current state of affairs at Pivdenne bureau is one of the clearest examples of this," said Kuchma, who in 1982-1986 was first deputy designer general at Pivdenne Design Bureau. Kuchma went on to head Pivdenmash for six years.

As reported earlier, the State Space Agency of Ukraine on February 17 decided to dismiss the chief designer and CEO of Pivdenne Design Bureau, Oleksandr Dehtiariov, referring to the recommendations of the State Financial Inspectorate of Ukraine. At the same time, the agency reported that, given the significant professional experience and achievements of Dehtiariov, he was offered the post of chief designer at Pivdenne Design Bureau.

The decision led to protests at the enterprise.