Key Information
- The Ukrainian army will undergo a thorough reform, with an increase in soldiers’ salaries based on their combat experience and effectiveness.
- The new system aims at a contractual service to clarify conditions and make the length of service visible.
- These reforms aim to create a more equitable and sustainable army, capable of facing the challenges Ukrainian troops face on the front line.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced a comprehensive reform of the country’s armed forces, focused on a significant increase in soldiers’ salaries and a restructuring of recruitment and service rules. The reform, set to be implemented in June, aims to create a more equitable and sustainable military system.
Equitable Remuneration
Zelensky emphasized that salary increases would be based on principles of fairness, taking into account factors such as completed combat missions, real combat experience, and overall effectiveness.
The minimum wage for non-combat roles will be set at 30,000 hryvnias (approximately $680). Infantry troops, who are at the forefront of combat, will receive significantly higher pay ranging from 250,000 to 400,000 hryvnias (about $5,600 to $9,000) depending on mission completion.
The reform also addresses concerns related to recruitment and service conditions. Zelensky expressed a desire to expand contractual service, offering soldiers clearer conditions and more predictable service durations. This change aims to create a system for gradually mobilizing soldiers previously mobilized according to defined schedules, starting this year.
Ongoing Transformation
Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov highlighted the government’s work since January to transform recruitment and service conditions. He presented key elements of the reform, including a fair remuneration model, a new contract system with clear service conditions, and a transparent rotation policy for better staffing of units.
Zelensky expects a detailed report outlining concrete measures and a schedule for payment increases starting in June. This announcement comes as concerns grow about the challenging conditions facing Ukrainian troops on the front line, especially infantry units grappling with personnel shortages and constant threats of enemy attacks. The reforms aim to address these issues and ensure a more sustainable and effective military force.
