New Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak is engaged in the urgent rearmament of the Ukrainian army, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk has said.

"The new defense minister is now engaged in the urgent rearmament of the army. A total of 1,500 pieces of equipment have been purchased for the National Guard. I hope that the UAH 18 billion that was allocated for a defense doctrine will also be used," he told reporters on Tuesday during his visit to the Yavoriv firing ground in Lviv region.

He said it was important not only to rearm the armed forces, but also to train soldiers. Therefore, the Petro Sahaidachny Army Academy's International Peacekeeping and Security Center at the Yavoriv firing range should serve as a basis for training Ukrainian Armed Forces servicemen, he said.

"I will have a conversation with our partners, including with NATO. You know that NATO launched four trust funds, and I am confident that part of this money and technical assistance should come to this center so that our servicemen could meet the highest standards, including NATO standards," Yatseniuk said.

He said that he has high hopes for the new defense minister: "I have high hopes for the new defense minister, for him responsibly treating the fate of every soldier."