KIEV, June 10 (Xinhua) -- The Ukrainian parliament on Wednesday voted to update the country's defense budget for this year to a record 4.4 trillion hryvnias (98.1 billion U.S. dollars), an increase of 1.56 trillion hryvnias, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said.
"This decision will allow additional resources to be directed toward funding the Defense Forces and protecting people," Svyrydenko wrote on Telegram.
According to Svyrydenko, 2.3 trillion hryvnias will be allocated for weapons procurement and military equipment, while some 1.45 trillion hryvnias will be used to support military personnel financially.
The budget amendments approved by the parliament also provide additional financing for the protection of critical infrastructure and the provision of backup power sources for communities.
Svyrydenko said that extra funding was made possible in part by financial assistance from the European Union, including a 90-billion-euro (104.2 billion dollars) support package, as well as other assistance programs. ■