Ukraine has launched a “army reform” that should introduce a phased mobilization and significantly higher salaries for soldiers engaged on the front, announced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday. Mr. Zelensky notably wants to “strengthen the contracting system in the defense forces”, so that “clearly defined service duration conditions are guaranteed and — starting this year — a phased mobilization becomes possible for those who were mobilized earlier.”
He did not provide more details on this measure, which is highly demanded as the current legislation only allows mobilization once martial law is lifted, in effect since the beginning of the Russian invasion in February 2022. The Ukrainian president also wants a significant increase in salaries: “the minimum level should be at least 30,000 hryvnias (around 580 euros) for non-combat positions” against currently 20,000 hryvnias (390 euros).
Up to 7,770 euros
“For combat positions, it should be several times higher,” he said, mentioning monthly payments “ranging from 250,000 to 400,000 hryvnias” in the infantry (between 4,850 and 7,770 euros). Currently, a soldier fighting on the front for a month receives an additional payment of 170,000 hryvnias (3,300 euros).
The details of this reform are expected to be finalized in May, “and the first results should be achieved in June,” Volodymyr Zelensky said. After more than four years of a war that has killed tens, if not hundreds of thousands, Ukrainian forces are seeking new recruitment paths. Today, almost all new recruits are mobilized.
