BRUSSELS, March 15, /ITAR-TASS/. Ukraine will spend the biggest part of the Western financial aid to create its National Guard, a highly-placed source in the Ukrainian Defence Ministry said on Saturday, March 15.
“But Kiev has no intention to finance the Army and the Navy which are in shambles,” he said.
The official noted that by so doing the Ukrainian authorities show the priority of the National Guard over the Armed Forces. “The high status of the National Guard coupled with its right to oversee the activities of army commanders will substantially degrade the authority of the Army and Navy by giving them a secondary role. The government of Ukraine is avoiding issues of reliable national defence by putting all bets on the suppression of internal political dissidence,” he said.
On March 13, the Ukrainian parliament passed a law authorising the creation of the National Guard. It will incorporate the Interior Troops and will consist of about 60,000 personnel. Its commander will be approved by the national parliament.
On March 12, a source in the Ukrainian government said that apart from the Interior Troops the National Guard would also enlist some of the Maidan protesters.