Ukraine is launching an “army reform” that should introduce a phased demobilization and significantly higher salaries for soldiers engaged at the front, announced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday. Zelensky particularly wants to “strengthen the contracting system within the defense forces,” so that “clearly defined terms of service are guaranteed and – as early as this year – phased demobilization becomes possible for those mobilized earlier.”
He did not provide more details on this measure, which is highly demanded as current legislation only allows demobilization 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,” compared to the current 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 between 250,000 and 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,” indicated Volodymyr Zelensky. After over four years of a war that has resulted in tens, if not hundreds of thousands of deaths, the Ukrainian forces are seeking new recruitment strategies. Currently, almost all new recruits are mobilized.
/2026/05/01/69f4c7d74533e138886400.jpg "The Ukrainian President wants to increase military salaries and promote the demobilization of soldiers mobilized earlier")
