15:20 03.12.2016

Defense Ministry will use all funds issued for purchase of weapons in 2016 - Poltorak

1 min read
Defense Ministry will use all funds issued for purchase of weapons in 2016 - Poltorak

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense will use all the funds allocated this year for purchase of arms and equipment, but the defense order will not be executed, Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak has said.

"This year we have accepted 17 units of new weapons and military equipment, bought a lot of rocket and artillery weapons, ammunition, armored and automotive equipment, thermal imagers, and other types of equipment. There is no disruption of procurement, however there is underfunding," Poltorak said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

"We saw a shortage of UAH 3.6 billion for the execution of the state defense order. We planned to get the funds from special confiscation, but the Verkhovna Rada has not passed the relevant law. Therefore we failed to execute the state defense order," he added.

However, the minister assured the funds allocated will be spent.

"But the money we have obtained will be used by the end of the year. Just two weeks ago the last billion of hryvnias was allocated. These funds were blocked but there is a government resolution to unblock the money and all the contracts for purchase of arms and equipment have been signed," Poltorak said.

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