Ukraine's defense industry will quickly replenish the arsenal of artillery weapons of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security and Defense Serhiy Pashynsky has said.

According to the MP, the new 82-mm Verba mortar was created for the army by the OJSC Meridian and System Engineering Management Ltd. in a period of few months as part of public-private partnership. The new artillery equipment uses high-explosive, fragmentation and smoke mines and propaganda leaflet ammunition.

"I hope for a successful testing and quick handing over of these mortars to the advanced army units. This is certainly a small step towards the increase of our defense capacity, but together we will continue to do everything possible not only to equip our army, but also to renew the enormous potential of the Ukrainian military and industrial complex," Pashynsky wrote on his "Facebook" page.