Ukraine Starts Demobilisation of Troops from Combat Zone

Ukraine has launched the demobilisation of troops summoned for active duty since 17 March 2014 over the conflict with pro-Russian rebels in the country’s eastern regions, Interfax reported on Wednesday.

About 30,000 government troops will be discharged from the combat area starting 18 March.

Some 35,300 servicemen are eligible for the demobilisation now underway in Ukraine, according to the Defence Ministry in Kiev.

"The servicemen will be returning to all regions of the country, approximately 1,000-2,000 men to each," according to the first deputy head of the Ukrainian Presidential Administration Vitaliy Kovalchuk.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak has said the country’s armed forces will grow to 250,000 men within a month.

Currently, Ukraine’s armed forces havesome 230,000 servicemen and the 250,000-strong target will be achieved through mobilisation, Poltorak said on Wednesday.

Ukraine’s Parliament approved the presidential decree for increasing the size of the army to 250,000 men, including 204,000 military servicemen, two weeks ago.