KIEV, September 4 (RIA Novosti) - The Ukrainian defense minister said Monday obligatory military service would be discontinued after 2010.
Anatoliy Hrytsenko said, "2010 will be the last year for the military draft. After that, we will have, by presidential decree, contractual service in the armed forces on a voluntary basis."
Hrytsenko said that currently seven million people, including 600,000 reserve officers, are registered in Ukrainian military registration and enlistment offices.
"This is not necessary and cannot be justified," the minister said. "If one used common sense, it would be possible to stop training of reserve officers for the next 10 years."
Hrytsenko added he decided to cancel a state order on the training of reserve officers.
