Yuriy Biriukov: Defense Ministry’s structure to be changed in line with NATO standards

Advisor to the Ukrainian President and Assistant to the Defense Minister, Yuriy Biriukov, said this on TV Channel 5.

“This concerns the change in the organizational structure of the command authority, i.e., the General Staff and the Defense Ministry, and the change in the organizational structure of combat units,” he said.

He specified: “In particular, the process of transition to NATO standards provides that the post of Chief of the General Staff - Commander-in-Chief will be shared by two persons in 2018. That is, we will have the commander-in-chief and the chief of the General Staff... the system of leadership changes at the level of divisions. As far as I know, more powers are given to "inferior" [in rank] - more freedom in using weapons and more freedom in giving orders to inferior commanders. The logistics system is also changing, the training system is changing”.

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