12 February 2008, 18:41
The Law (Reg.No.1316) envisages reduction of the strength of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to 191 thousand persons, including 148 thousand servicemen, till 31 December 2008. Thus, within Year 2008 the entire strength of the Armed Forces is to be reduced by 9 thousand persons, including 1 thousand servicemen.
The strength of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is defined due to the regulations of the Military Doctrine of Ukraine.
The Law defines the following methods to reduce the strength of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to the recommended figures till the end of 2008:
optimization in personnel and structure of administrative bodies, introduction of modern information technologies into the practice of military administration bodies, extension of digital systems and communication networks;
optimization in the structure and strength of the Fast Response Joint Forces and Primary Defence Forces within Ukraine's Armed Forces, a reduction in their strength to the recommended figures, a reduction in the membership of Support Divisions together with the introduction of new plans for their organization, and provision of engineering, rear, etc support facilities;
transfer of a number of tasks regarding material and technical provision of Ukraine´s Armed Forces to the industrial enterprises and small and medium business entities on the grounds of concuded agreements (on the tender basis);
coordination of military education and science with the tasks of Ukraine´s Armed Forces and actual demand on military specialists;
enhancement of organization of educational centers on preparation of junior specialists, establishment nof a new system of training and retraining of profesional sergeants and sergeant mayors.