Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has attended the opening of the 142nd training center of the Special Operations Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Berdychiv, Zhytomyr region.

The president noted that the Ukrainian army's fighting experience has shown convincingly that efficient use of the Armed Forces is only possible with introduction of a modern personnel-training system and a solid material and training base in place, the Ukrainian president's press office said on Tuesday.

"It is this approach that was determined for the Special Operations Forces that are being created under NATO standards," Poroshenko said.

The president also thanked partners - NATO countries - for the substantial help in developing and forming the Special Operations Forces. Thanks to professional instructors from the U.S., Poland, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia, the Ukrainian instructors completed qualified training and are now actively involved in the selection and training of Special Operations Forces units.

Fifty-eight military centers have completed qualification courses under the supervision of NATO instructors, the president said. Additionally, the Center includes highly-professional servicemen who gained fighting experience during the special operation in eastern Ukraine, over 30 of them have had their service recognized with state and ministerial awards.

Poroshenko also handed over to the Center's director the combat flag of the 142nd training center of the Special Operations Forces and congratulated special-forces servicemen on the 25th anniversary of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. It is highly symbolic that the center of the Special Operations Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces is opening on this day, the president said.

On the occasion of Ukrainian Armed Forces Day, the president presented the participants of the special operation with name-engraved watches.

The president familiarized himself with the Center's facilities, including a shooting range, and also with weapons that included mortars, grenade launchers, machineguns, carbines of a varying caliber, sniper systems, optical devices, including night-vision devices, and pistols of various modifications.