Ukraine says it is ending the practice of compulsory military service in 2013 and will move to a system of recruiting contract personnel.
Defense Minister Pavlo Lebedev announced the shift as part of his official holiday announcement, saying the ministry was undergoing "cardinal changes."
He also said the shift would bring Ukraine's military recruitment in line with those in "leading countries of the world."
Ukraine's armed forces numbered 184,000 troops in 2012, making it the fifth-largest army in Europe.
The Defense Ministry aims to reduce the number of military personnel to 70,000 within the next five years.
Defense Minister Pavlo Lebedev announced the shift as part of his official holiday announcement, saying the ministry was undergoing "cardinal changes."
He also said the shift would bring Ukraine's military recruitment in line with those in "leading countries of the world."
Ukraine's armed forces numbered 184,000 troops in 2012, making it the fifth-largest army in Europe.
The Defense Ministry aims to reduce the number of military personnel to 70,000 within the next five years.
