Ukrainian Parliament increasing size of army

KYIV, Ukraine, March 5 (UPI) — A Ukrainian Parliament bill, passed Thursday, will increase the size of Ukraine’s army from 184,000 to 250,000 troops.

After Defense Minister Petro Mekhed argued the increase was needed for an “anti-terrorist operation” against pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine, 270 legislators in Kyiv, among 314 present, voted in favor of boosting the military. Serhiy Pashynyskyy, chief of Parliament’s national security and defense committee, said the formation of additional combat units would be a priority. The bill will go to President Petro Poroshenko, who is expected to sign it into law.

The upgrade to the military comes as both Ukrainian and separatist forces pull back heavy weaponry in their conflict, as mandated by a cease-fire agreement, but delivery of more weapons to the Ukrainian army remains under discussion by Western governments.

“We completely share the view that the stronger the Ukrainian army, the bigger the chances of slowing down the escalation of the conflict,” said Stanislaw Koziej, chief of Poland’s National Security Council, Thursday. “Hence it is in the interests of Europe, Poland and Ukraine to strengthen and additionally arm the Ukrainian army.”

Polish Foreign Minister Grzegorz Schetnya announced Polish military instructors will take part in training Ukrainian troops, adding, “Polish instructors in Ukraine are part of a wider NATO program, which started last year. It has nothing to do with the events in the east of Ukraine and Russian-Ukrainian relations.”

The United States said previously it would send 300 instructors to Ukraine.

Open all references in tabs: [1 – 5]