Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko on Thursday signed a bill that will formalize the use of a salute once popular with a controversial nationalist group by the armed forces.
KIEV (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 11th October, 2018) Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko on Thursday signed a bill that will formalize the use of a salute once popular with a controversial nationalist group by the armed forces.
The draft law to make the exchange, "Glory to Ukraine - Glory to Heroes," part of the military code of conduct was passed last week by the Ukrainian parliament. It needs to be published to become law.
"We made the first step [toward respecting the military] last week when the parliament upheld and adopted the presidential motion. I signed it," Poroshenko announced at a meeting with the top brass.
The new rules, which will see the military abandon the word "comrade" as the formal address in favor of a less widespread "pan," will also be enforced in the national police.
The greeting is associated with the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (banned in Russia), a paramilitary group that fought against Soviet troops during World War Two. It is accused of massacring tens of thousands of Poles in Nazi-occupied Poland.
