Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) Oleksandr Turchynov has stated the government would be recommended to increase expenditures from the general fund of the national budget for 2017 on security and defense by about UAH 3 billion.

"It is proposed to increase security and defense sector expenditures by about UAH 3 billion," he said at a briefing after the NSDC meeting in Kyiv.

In his words, this applies to the Ministry of Defense, the National Guard, intelligence, the National Police, and issues related to cyber security.

"It is also proposed to increase financing for the penitentiary system of the Justice Ministry by UAH 400 million from the budget general fund," he said, noting the government and the Ministry of Justice must submit the reform of the Penitentiary Service of Ukraine as soon as possible.

According to Turchynov, additional costs for security and defense are related to the situation and the threats Ukraine faces today.

"First of all, this is connected with the continuation of Russian aggression against Ukraine," he said.