Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced plans to enhance military compensation, stating that there are sufficient resources to raise payments to a minimum of 30,000 hryvnias for personnel stationed in the rear. During a June 12 address, he emphasized that the level of pay would correlate with the nature of combat assignments, with frontline infantry potentially receiving an average of 300,000 hryvnias.
Zelensky detailed that contracts would be structured for specific durations—10, 14, and 24 months—along with clearly defined conditions and postponements. He indicated that increased payments would also apply to Ukrainian combat commanders, aiming to incentivize the retention of experienced leadership within the military.
The President noted that the Cabinet of Ministers would finalize a mechanism for these changes, with the government expected to initiate new payments as early as June. Additionally, he hinted at plans to simplify recruitment processes for foreign volunteers joining the Ukrainian armed forces.
Further reforms will include enhanced opportunities for military personnel to advance within the ranks and improved incentives for enlistment. Zelensky pointed to the positive impact of direct funding for combat brigades and the ongoing equitable distribution of personnel across units. He expressed confidence that these reforms would demonstrate their effectiveness over the summer, with the Ministry of Defense set to provide detailed information on the initiatives.
Earlier in the day, during a question-and-answer session in the Verkhovna Rada, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko confirmed that the Ministry of Defense is preparing a reform aimed at increasing military salaries. She acknowledged the significant financial implications of this initiative and stated that the government is currently assessing how to balance the budget to ensure the continuity of these payments in the current and future periods.
Svyrydenko mentioned that the reform would also involve establishing more precise service terms, although she did not disclose specific details. On June 10, the Verkhovna Rada had already approved salary increases for police and emergency services personnel.
Currently, the base salary for a soldier not deployed on the frontline and not receiving additional payments is just over 20,000 hryvnias. According to the latest data from the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, the average salary for employees in the country is 30,515 hryvnias, indicating that military pay is lagging behind this average.
On May 1, President Zelensky announced the commencement of military reforms, which are expected to yield initial results in June. He reiterated the goal of significantly increasing military compensation based on fairness, with pay levels influenced by combat assignments and the actual experience and effectiveness of military personnel.
Moreover, he announced plans to revise the approach to staffing military units and managing personnel. Zelensky has tasked officials with strengthening the contract system within the Defense Forces to ensure defined service terms, which will facilitate the phased release of previously mobilized personnel based on clear time criteria.
President Zelensky has outlined a plan to increase military salaries and implement structural reforms within the Ukrainian armed forces. The adjustments aim to enhance compensation based on combat roles and experience, with the government expected to initiate changes shortly.