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Ukraine to retrench research funding in favor of expanded weapons production

According to the Ukrainian president, the country’s defence sector will focus on manufacturing “systems of high precision weapons"

KIEV, July 09, 5:27 /ITAR-TASS/. Ukraine will retrench financing of research programmes “no one needs” in favour of expanding weapons production, Ukraine’s President Pyotr Poroshenko said after a meeting with the military in the city of Slavyansk.

“Billions of budgetary funds, taxpayer money will not any longer be spent on research programmes no one really needs, which were only used as a tool of embezzlement,” the press service of the Ukrainian head of state quoted him as saying on Tuesday.

According to the Ukrainian president, the country’s defence sector will focus on manufacturing “systems of high precision weapons, drones, everything the Ukrainian army needs - from bullet-proof vests to thermal cameras.” “Today, my first deputy, along with the newly appointed CEO of Ukroboromprom, officers of the General Staff, defence minister deputies and representatives from the interior ministry held a conference. They will draft amendments to the state defence order,” Poroshenko said, adding that the state defence order “will take into account the experience the Ukrainian army and National Guard acquired during combat operations in eastern regions.