Defense Ministry

Ukraine has accused Russia of sending in dozens of tanks and other heavy weapons into Ukraine’s rebel-controlled eastern areas.

National Security and Defense Council spokesman Andriy Lysenko said on Nov. 7 at least 32 tanks, 16 artillery systems and 30 trucks loaded with fighters and ammunition had crossed into eastern Ukraine from Russia.

A Turkish navy corvette was spotted sailing in Greek waters in the early hours of Tuesday, the Defense Ministry said, adding that the vessel was closely monitored until it re-entered Turkish territory.

Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç has denied that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) has been excluded from the Turkish government’s peace process to end the 30-year-long Kurdish issue.

Arınç’s words came in response to a motion filed by a deputy of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) based on remarks by Chief of General Staff Gen. Necdet Özel on the issue.

Greece’s new defense and development ministers are due to be sworn in on Monday after a mini reshuffle caused by the departure of Dimitris Avramopoulos from his post at the Defense Ministry to become the EU's Home Affairs and Migration commissioner.

Nikos Dendias, 55, leaves the Development Ministry to replace Avramopoulos.

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on Friday appointed Nikos Dendias as defense minister, replacing outgoing Dimitris Avramopoulos, who assumes the European Commission’s immigration portfolio next week, with Costas Skrekas to take over Dendias’s spot at the helm of the Development Ministry.

Continuity in Greece’s defense policy will not be disrupted if SYRIZA were elected in government, leftist opposition leader Alexis Tsipras said on Tuesday after a marathon meeting at the Defense Ministry.

Some 600 workers at the Elefsina Shipyard, west of Athens, blocked the entrance to the site late on Monday and refused to allow management to leave in a row over unpaid wages.

Ukraine's Parliament has approved Stepan Poltorak to take over the Defense Ministry from Valeriy Heletey.

The Verkhovna Rada voted overwhelmingly (245-1) in favor of his candidacy, Interfax Ukraine reports.

Poltorak previously headed the Ukrainian National Guard.

The Defense Ministry will push for a higher military spending to be allocated in 2015, media reports suggest.

Deficits impeding the army to cover even some of its most essential needs are behind the expected move, with at least BGN 1.2 B needed to ensure that money for additional training and armament is available, daily Pressa hints, citing ts own sources.

BELGRADE - Serbian Defense Minister Bratislav Gasic said during a meeting he has had with Head of the United Nations (UN) Office in Belgrade Peter Due in Belgrade that the cooperation between the Defense Ministry and the UN is very important to the continuation of Serbia's reform process and progress in European integration.