KYIV. Sept 2 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian authorities are considering a possible change of the format of the army operation in eastern Ukraine, National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Information Analysis Center speaker Andriy Lysenko said.
"We are aware of the situation and a decision on further reconfiguration of the ATO [army operation] format is pending. Some say this is a wrong format because we are no longer dealing with the terrorists, but a decision to change the format has yet to be made," Lysenko said in a program aired by the ICTV channel on Monday evening.
"I think we will hear about broader solutions shortly, among them solutions concerning personnel matters," he added.
Lysenko also said the Ukrainian army was preparing for defensive operations in the south.
"Speaking of the southern sector, troops have been rapidly redeployed there and reinforcements have been sent. For instance, we have formed an outpost in Mariupol equipped with engineering fortifications and mine fields. We already possess forces in the southern sector to deter a more powerful attack," he said.
Moreover, a large number of volunteers are ready to engage in combat upon first order, Lysenko said, adding that Mariupol alone has 5,000 volunteers.