Home Army Service and the Out-of-State Trap: Why the Pay System Needs a Reboot

During 28 months of continuous service in the army, 22 of which were spent in the active combat zone, I had a certain reassessment of values ​​and attitudes towards rear positions in the army.

We need to discuss unpopular but necessary things: the fairness of pay for labor in the rear positions and the social security of those who find themselves “out of state”. I will talk about the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard of Ukraine and others.

I can’t say anything about the Main Directorate of Intelligence or the Security Service of Ukraine, because I’ve never encountered them from the inside. Perhaps the state of affairs with wages in these structures is better than in general in the army.

Advertising:

The myth of the “unimportant” rear There is a social stereotype that war is exclusively a trench or a dugout. Undoubtedly, the infantry is the backbone on which everything rests. If the foot of the foot soldier does not set foot on the ground where the fighting is going on, then the work of drones, artillery, aviation and heavy equipment is useless.

However, modern warfare also includes planning, programming, engineering, logistics, record keeping, accounting, and more. It is a complex mechanism where everyone does their job. The army is a complex organism with many components.

In today’s full-scale invasion realities, all military operations—both those reported in the news and those that remain classified—are planned and executed by specific people. Often these are specialists who had successful careers and high fortunes in civilian life before mobilization. They voluntarily left their comfortable living conditions for the sake of approaching Victory.

However, we are faced with a paradox: people, on whose decisions a lot depends on the functioning of brigades and corps, receive conditional 20 thousand hryvnias in monetary support. This is an amount that today does not correspond even to the average market indicators in the civil sector, if you believe the Draft Law on the State Budget for 2026

A strategic-level specialist responsible for global things such as deep intelligence, reconnaissance, cyber security and others should not think about how to live and the compensation offered by the state.

Low wages in responsible positions creates a dangerous dilemma: either we lose the initiative of such quality personnel over time, who begin to openly work below their capabilities and look for part-time jobs on the side, or we create the basis for corruption. The best safeguard against this is transparent, worthy motivation for professionals who really work for results, and not just “oversit.”

On the other hand, there are known shameful cases of bribes for “rear positions” in order to avoid front-line service. This is a crime. It does not deserve respect.

“At the disposal of the commander”: or a financial trap for the wounded The situation with the removal of servicemen “out of state” (officially, enlistment at the disposal of the commander) requires a separate discussion, because it is one of the most painful points of social protection of the military. I will stop on this briefly.

According to the current legislation, enrollment in the order takes place, in particular, if a serviceman is undergoing long-term treatment or is recognized by the VLK as unfit for service with a review after 6–12 months.

The language of numbers

The first two months. After discharge, the military serviceman retains full financial support for the last position he held (in accordance with Chapter XXIX of the Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs No. 260). That is, the fighter is financially protected for the first 60 days.

After two months. The situation is radically changing. The payment for the position is terminated. Previously (until the middle of 2023), fighters in this status received a pittance – only a salary for a military rank and an allowance for years of service, which in total could amount to UAH 500-1,500. It was outright bullying.

Current state. Thanks to changes in the legislation (Law No. 3161-IX), military personnel discharged in connection with an injury are charged an additional payment in the amount of 20,100 hryvnias.

On paper, the problem of monetary compensation for military personnel removed from the state seems to be solved. But let’s look at reality.

A military serviceman who, before being injured, received combat pay plus salary, has a sharp drop in income to the level of rear pay without allowances. At the same time, he:

• May require more costs: rehabilitation after severe injuries often requires drugs, procedures or special nutrition, which are not always fully covered by the state.
• Loses career growth: the status “at disposal” is a conditional professional “refrigerator”. For years, a person can be “in the air” for months, waiting either to be released or to return to the army.

All these nuances turn the military serviceman’s recovery period into a struggle for survival, instead of a peaceful rehabilitation.

Conclusions Discussions about revising the compensation system in 2026 for military personnel remain just talk at the moment. The budget is accepted. Additional costs for securing rear positions are not expected.

Increasing the level of pay for servicemen working in the rear and decent provision of those removed from the state is a matter of preserving the institutional capacity of the army.

At the same time, in need of justice, none of us should forget the realities of full-scale war. The very concept of “rear” in Ukraine is conditional.

The experience of the battle with Mariupol in 2022 showed: when the situation becomes critical, everyone takes up arms. Gunners, staff officers, drivers and cooks all occupied infantry positions.

Every serviceman, regardless of rank and salary, should be ready to switch from a laptop or ballpoint pen to an automatic at any time. But while he performs his duties in his place, the state must guarantee him a decent salary.

More thoughts and stories about military life in my Telegram channel. join in.

Victor “Gideon” Cherniyavskyi

A column is a type of material that reflects exclusively the point of view of the author. It does not claim objectivity and comprehensive coverage of the topic in question. The point of view of the editors of “Economic Pravda” and “Ukrainian Pravda” may not coincide with the author’s point of view. The editors are not responsible for the reliability and interpretation of the given information and perform exclusively the role of a carrier.