Ukrainian President Volodymyr ZelenskyMOSCOW, February 2The decree of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky on increasing the number of the country's armed forces is not valid, since this issue belongs to the powers of the Verkhovna Rada, this was indicated on Facebook by the deputy from the party of Petro Poroshenko «European Solidarity» Maria Ionova. Zelensky signed the corresponding document on Tuesday while speaking at the opening of the seventh session of the Rada. The decree provides for an increase in the country's defense capability and provides for an increase in the size of the army by 100 thousand people over the next three years, the creation of an additional 20 brigades, an increase in the length of service under the contract and an increase in the salaries of military personnel.
Zelensky said that Britain is helping Ukraine to strengthen the fleet «Zelensky today solemnly promised to raise the army from its knees … Alas, it looks like another lie and stupid PR. Firstly, the size of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is regulated by the law of the Verkhovna Rada, and not by presidential decree. And (this. — ed.) should be calculated taking into account the real tasks and financial capabilities of the state,» the parliamentarian wrote. According to Ionova, the statement to increase the army by 100,000 people without «tactical and economic justifications» is similar to Zelensky's promise to plant a billion trees. «Secondly, the transition to a professional army usually means a reduction in the armed forces, not an increase in them. Today, the staffing of military units barely reaches 60% — the military do not go to serve because of low salaries and unresolved social problems,» she said. As noted Deputy, at the moment Ukraine is not able to finance the current needs of the army for weapons by more than 20%. «What kind of radical increase in the number of military personnel can we talk about in such conditions?» she asked. According to Article 85 of the Constitution of Ukraine, the approval of the general structure, number, definition of the functions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and a number of law enforcement agencies belongs to the powers of the Verkhovna Rada. > «They will fight in the rear.» Kiev creates an army of pensioners
