Ukraine’s Third Unprecedented Step

Radical reductions of the Armed Forces should be viewed as preparing Ukraine for demilitarization, said President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma. This will be Ukraine’s third unprecedented step after giving up strategic nuclear weapons and reducing military contingent more than two times in previous years, President Kuchma stressed in his annual address to the parliament. The president also expressed his hope that in reducing its armed forces Ukraine can count on understanding from the developed countries in terms of securing its security, as well as their international legal support. In part, Ukraine hopes that the well-known memorandum on giving it guarantees by the five nuclear states will be revised to transfer these guarantees from political to legal sphere, Ukraine’s leader pointed out. The plan for reforming Ukraine’s Armed Forces envisions reducing their manpower in 2006 from 355,000 to 200,000. In addition, the message says that by the end of 2006, 500 tanks, 640 battle armored cars, 250 gunnery system with caliber over 100 mm, 110 battle planes, and 50 transport battle helicopters will be withdrawn from the Armed Forces.

According to the experts, the resource of most of Ukraine’s military equipment units will be exhausted in five to ten years. If no measures are taken, by 2005-2010 Ukraine will lose virtually all its basic weapons.