Ukraine's parliament approves Hr 6.7 billion for defense, mobilization of armed forces

Ukraine's parliament approved emergency funding of Hr 6.7 billion (more than $600 million) for military spending on March 17th, 2014Ukraine's parliament approved emergency funding of Hr 6.7 billion (more than $600 million) for military spending and agreed to mobilize military and National Guard units today -- a significant amount in a national budget that doesn't exceed $50 billion a year, kyivpost.com reports.

Andriy Parubiy, the Batkivshchyna party member who now heads Ukraine's Security and Defense Council, blamed overthrown President Viktor Yanukovych for doing "everything to destroy the Ukrainian army. We need to put all operating units on alert."

The law on partial mobilization of the military was approved with 275 out of 450 votes.

Minister of Finance Oleksandr Shlapak said that "we have a very complicated economic situation in Ukraine" and will need to spend Hr 6.7 billion in the next three months to buy weapons, repair military equipment and conduct training camps. 

Currently, Shlapak said that there are no reserve funds available, forcing parliament to immediately reallocate part of the approved 2014 budget.

The law amending the current budget was approved with the support of 243 out of 450 lawmakers.

Because of Arseniy Avakov appointemnt to the Cabinet of Ministers,who is currently working as interior minister, he resigned his duties as a member of parliament.