Budget for weapons development, purchases for 2017 UAH 9 billion

"This year we have budgeted UAH nine billion to develop new and modernized types of armaments and military equipment," Poroshenko told troops assembled at an Army General Staff meeting in Kyiv on Wednesday. The president tasked Ukraine's defence minister and top military brass to develop a reliable and effective system to allocate the budgeted funds. "The defence order is more than modest when we look at world prices and compare what the aggressor is spending on military items. However, it is rather large item in the Ukrainian budget and for the budget of Ukrainians," he said. Poroshenko called attention to the fact that this year anti-missile system modernization and the development of a missile-defence shield would be a priority, along with developing air force capabilities, artillery, ammunition production, developing telecommunications systems and automated systems for the deployment of troops and recon units.