You're reading: Defense minister vows to create professional army in Ukraine

Ukrainian Defense Minister Pavlo Lebedev has promised to do everything possible to create a modern and professional army in Ukraine, the Defense Ministry's press service has reported.

“We don’t need soldiers who are getting into the swing of things for six months and then preparing for dismissal for six months,” the press service quoted Lebedev as saying during his visit to Ivano-Frankivsk garrison on Friday.

He said that the salaries of soldiers who did not have them raised last year would be increased this year. He also said that apartments for servicemen would be purchased through the sale of surplus military property at auctions.

“Our task is to create the modern Armed Forces of Ukraine of a new type, well trained and socially protected. And we will cope with this task,” Lebedev said.