Newly appointed Defense Minister Dmytro Salamatin has said that his first priority will be the development of the human resources of the Ukrainian army.
"The first and key priority is people – preserving the human resources of the Armed Forces. No matter how modern the equipment and weapons may be, [the army] will be nothing but high-tech hardware without well trained and highly qualified people working in this area," he said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
When asked whether personnel changes should be expected in the Defense Ministry in the near future, Salamatin said: "Professionals will remain. We must learn to value highly trained specialists."
The minister said that a social status of a Ukrainian officer should be raised.
"The introduction of high social standards for servicemen, their families and military retirees includes an increase in salaries and settling the housing issue. These are the objectives put forward by the president, who is supreme commander-in-chief of the armed forces. We will find a solution," Salamatin said.
