Poroshenko Signs Army Draft Demobilization Decree

President Petro Poroshenko has signed a decree on demobilization of the soldiers of the fifth conscription wave, the President’s advisor Yuri Biruikov writes on Facebook [ed.: this Facebook post is in the Russian language].

"The decree would have been signed today anyway, but it is symbolic where it was signed," Biriukov says.

Petro Poroshenko later wrote that he signed the decree in government-controlled Vodiane, near Donetsk airport. He thanked the soldiers for their service and encouraged those willing to continue serving in the military to sign a professional contract [ed.: this Facebook post is in the Ukrainian language].

The decree demobilized about 17,000 soldiers. Conscripts of the fifth wave were mobilized to the army in spring 2015, the planned demobilization was announced by the Ministry of Defense last week.

Source: Ukrayinska Pravda