The Ukrainian Armed Forces will receive several T-72 tanks equipped with the new NATO-standard fire control system by the end of 2015, and in 2016 the Defense Ministry of Ukraine will start buying T-84 Oplot tanks, which are currently being exported, Head of the Armored Department of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Yuriy Melnyk has said.

"The Ukrainian Armed Forces had T-72 tanks in 1990s. We have many crews after mobilization that only used these tanks. In addition, T-72 tanks do not require large funds to repair them. It was decided to restore tanks and send them to the military units. It was made in the shortest terms. The Lviv [Armored Fighting Vehicle] Plant gave us 62 tanks, restoration is underway. By the end of the year the army will receive several more these tanks," Melnyk said in an interview with Radio Svoboda which was published on the Defense Ministry's website on Monday.

He said that there is an agreement between Ukroboronprom state concern and its Polish partners who are helping to improve the range settings of the tanks, as well as to install optics and modernize fire control systems.

"The crews will be able to see for a longer distance and shoot more precisely, which is important for our tank [crews]," Melnyk said.

He said that optics will be considerably improved, both on tanks and infantry fighting vehicles.

"Also defense plants are repairing T-80 tanks and we will buy T-84 Oplot tanks next year," he said.

"Now the Kharkiv plant is receiving money to develop its production. It would be hard to start using this sample in Ukraine. Military personnel are to trained, then it is to be included in training units, and when military personnel is trained, Oplot could be sent to units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces," he said.