The Ukrainian Defense Ministry announces a vast military reform including the arrival of fixed-term contracts as well as an increase in salaries. The objective is to convince volunteers to get involved to deal with the manpower crisis on the front.
To respond to the manpower crisis, the Ukrainian army is reviewing its offer. Since Monday June 15, kyiv has been offering new fixed-term contracts (CDD) including a guaranteed demobilization period. As the war against Russia continues, Ukraine prefers to encourage volunteers to enlist rather than resorting to the very unpopular mobilization.
A reform to attract volunteers
The contracts offered are 6, 10 or 14 months for front-line fighters, and 24 months for other positions. The signatories of these new contracts thus escapeto the permanent contracts offered so far. Volunteers are also guaranteeda minimum of six months of demobilization at the end of their service.
“The new contracts provide clear conditions of service, guaranteed reprieves after the end of service, a new system of financial support, more predictability and control over one’s personal service” The Ukrainian Defense Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, announced on Telegram.
Wages revised upwards
The reform announced by Volodymyr Zelensky also includes an increase in wages: a monthly minimum of 30,000 hryvnias (around 580 euros) for non-combatant positions, compared to 20,000 hryvnias (390 euros) until now. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry also specifies that those who fight on the front linecan now count on a salary of up to 460,000 hryvnias per month (around 8,840 euros). Currently, a soldier fighting on the front for a month receives a payment of 170,000 hryvnias (3,300 euros) in addition to the minimum wage.
The Ukrainian army is also considering setting up a temporary system allowing the numerous deserters to rejoin the ranks via an accelerated procedure accompanied by certain advantages, particularly financial.
“We are building an army with clear rules and respect for soldiers. (…) Our main task is to do everything possible to save the lives of soldiers on the front,” added Mykhailo Fedorov.
“This is only the first step in the complete transformation of the Ukrainian defense forces. We establish fair and transparent rules that balance the interests of the state with those of its defenders,” indicates, for its part, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.
/2026/06/16/6a3112b5d2c75225250508.jpg "Moscow refinery hit in Ukrainian drone strike, kyiv demands response \"just\" to the Russian strikes of the day before")
