You're reading: Ukrainian deputy minister denies plans to up number of special police task force members six-fold

Ukrainian Deputy Interior Minister Viktor Ratushniak has denied media reports alleging that the government intends to increase the composition of the Berkut and Hryfon special police task forces six-fold to 30,000 members.

“This is untrue,” Ratushniak said in taking questions from journalists in Kyiv on Wednesday.

He acknowledged, however, that the government has restored the
financing of the number of law enforcement officials who are not part of
the Interior Ministry structure. “We have 14% shortage in the Interior
Ministry lineup. I am talking about district police inspectors,
patrolmen, and special services,” he said.

Some media reported earlier that the government decided at a closed
session on January 27 to increase the composition of Berkut and Hryfon
to 30,000 people and expand their powers.

At the present time, Berkut has some 4,000 and Hryfon some 1,000 members.