The President of Ukraine had a meeting with the Council of Volunteers under the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine – leaders of volunteer organizations involved in the maintenance of the Ukrainian army. The Head of State expressed gratitude to the volunteers for their active civil position and efficient interaction with the Defense Ministry.

"The Council of Volunteers has made the work of the Defense Ministry more open and efficient, which has significantly improved the material maintenance of troops. Due to your activity, we are now having a different army in comparison to the beginning of September," the President said.

According to the Head of State, the openness in the work of the Defense Ministry brought by the volunteers has revealed the shortcomings in the maintenance of troops and significantly improved the efficiency of public funds spending. "It has become possible, because the Defense Ministry has adjusted its interaction with volunteers," Petro Poroshenko said. The President called for the creation of the councils of volunteers in other security forces such as the Ministry of the Interior, the Border Service and the Security Service of Ukraine.

"We will mercilessly fight corruption in the Defense Ministry. We will not let anyone line one's pockets, especially in the Defense Ministry, which performs the sacred mission of defending the independence and territorial integrity of our state," the President said.

The Head of State emphasized that everyone involved in the decision-making process must pass the polygraph examination, as Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak and volunteers that will work in the Defense Ministry have already done so. As stated at the meeting, Colonel-General S. Poltorak and 9 of 12 volunteers have successfully passed the polygraph examination.

Volunteers will be involved in clothing, food and medical maintenance in the system of the Defense Ministry. Each department of the Defense Ministry responsible for the maintenance of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will include two volunteers. Such practice will be also implemented in other security forces.

Advisor to the President Yuriy Biriukov noted in his speech: "Today's meeting demonstrates that the authorities hear and engage us. We are ready to work inside the system and alter it. This is a true reform of the Ukrainian army".

The meeting was attended by the leaders of volunteer organizations that cooperate with the Defense Ministry of Ukraine and the General Staff, Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak, Chief of the General Staff Viktor Muzhenko, Head of the State Border Service Viktor Nazarenko, Commissioner of the President on Peaceful Settlement of the Situation in Donetsk and Luhansk Regions Iryna Gerashchenko, Advisor to the President on Coordination of Volunteer Movement Yuriy Biriukov.