Ukraine creates professional army

Our Southern neighbour abolishes obligatory military draft. Ukrainian soldiers will serve in the army only under a contract.

Ukraine's President Victor Yanukovich has announced this. "Analysis of previous military conflicts shows: it is not the number of troops that brings victory, but the high level of preparation, equipment and professionalism", - Yanukovich said during celebration of the Ukrainian army's anniversary. The reform prescribes decrease of the Ukrainian army from 192 thousand till 70 thousand people during the next five years, and cancellation of the compulsory military service by 2017.