Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced plans to raise salaries for military personnel, with proposed increases to 30,000 hryvnias for those stationed in the rear and up to 300,000 hryvnias for frontline soldiers. This initiative aims to enhance the financial stability of the country’s defense forces.
During recent meetings with key government officials, including Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, Zelensky emphasized the need for a robust transformation of the Ukrainian armed forces. He stated, “A path has been agreed upon to increase the financial resilience of our defense and ensure the further transformation of the Ukrainian army.”
The president confirmed that the state is prepared to boost military pay, indicating that the minimum salary for those in the rear would be set at 30,000 hryvnias, with higher payments linked to combat duties. He highlighted that new, more favorable contracts would be introduced specifically for infantry soldiers, with an average salary of 300,000 hryvnias for those on the front lines.
Zelensky noted that these contracts would include defined service periods of 10, 14, or 24 months, along with guaranteed conditions and deferments upon completion of service. Additionally, there are plans to increase compensation for combat commanders to incentivize experienced leadership within the military.
The Cabinet of Ministers is expected to finalize the implementation mechanism for these salary adjustments, with the first new payments anticipated to commence in June.
Furthermore, Zelensky announced efforts to broaden the recruitment of foreign volunteers into the Ukrainian army, stating, “I have instructed to open significantly more opportunities for attracting foreign volunteers to the Ukrainian army, and there will be more recruitment mechanisms for this.”
The government also aims to simplify the transfer process for military personnel between units and create more opportunities for career advancement within the armed forces. Zelensky expressed confidence that the changes being implemented this summer would demonstrate their effectiveness, with the Ministry of Defense set to provide further details.
Ukraine's government is set to increase military salaries significantly, with plans for new contracts and enhanced recruitment efforts for foreign volunteers. The changes aim to bolster the armed forces' financial stability and operational effectiveness.