Civilians will take charge of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry by the end of this year, President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine has said.

"Ukrainian Gen. of the Army Stepan Poltorak has become the first serviceman to surrender his rank and become a civilian minister. The entire administration of the Defense Ministry will do the same by the end of this year," Poroshenko told students at the National Trade and Economics University in Kyiv on Friday.

The Defense Ministry will be headed by a civilian starting on January 1, 2019, in accordance with the Law on National Security.

Poroshenko accepted Poltorak's resignation from military service on October 13. He continues to manage the Defense Ministry as a civilian.

The president also told the students that wages of Ukrainian soldiers would increase on January 1, 2019.

"Starting January 1, a soldier will be paid at least UAH 10,000, and UAH 21,000 on the front. This is a decent motivation and remuneration for a Ukrainian soldier's labor," Poroshenko said.