Zelensky announces pay raises, new service terms in army reform

Editor's note: The story was updated with President Volodymyr Zelensky's evening address on May 1.

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on May 1 a major reform of Ukraine's armed forces focused on increasing pay for soldiers and changing recruitment and service rules, with implementation set to begin in June.

"The fifth year of full-scale war presents unique challenges, first and foremost in managing personnel and motivating our soldiers," Zelensky said in his evening address, announcing the upcoming reform.

The statement comes amid growing scrutiny of front-line conditions, especially for infantry troops, as manpower shortages and harsh battlefield realities expose troops to constant risks from drone strikes, artillery fire, and remotely deployed mines.

The updated contracts are expected to allow previously mobilized soldiers to leave service, with timelines yet to be determined, according to Zelensky's statement.

Dmytro Lytvyn, the president's communications adviser, told journalists on May 1 that the Defense Ministry and the General Staff will provide details and timelines on the discharge of military personnel, but did not specify when this would occur.

Zelensky said he had instructed officials to significantly raise salaries, prioritizing fairness based on combat duties, experience, and effectiveness.

"There needs to be greater respect from the government for experienced military leaders: Ukraine must provide real incentives so that people who know how to lead troops directly on the front lines and in combat are motivated to serve in the military and feel that their experience is valued," Zelensky said.

The minimum salary for rear positions should be no less than Hr 30,000 (around $680), while infantry troops should receive significantly higher compensation, ranging from Hr 250,000 to Hr 400,000 (approximately $5,600-$9,000), depending on their combat tasks, the president said.

The reform will also change recruitment and service conditions, aiming to expand contract-based service to make service terms clearer and more predictable, according to Zelensky.

The changes would also set clear service terms and create conditions for the phased discharge of previously mobilized soldiers starting this year, based on defined timelines, the president added.

"This is the most fundamental moral issue," Zelensky said in the evening address, referring to the terms of service, an issue that concerns many servicemembers who have been unable to be demobilized since the start of the full-scale invasion due to the extension of martial law.

Zelensky said in his evening address that all aspects of the planned reform should be finalized in May, with the first "tangible" changes expected to take effect by June.

Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said the government has been working since January on a broader transformation of recruitment and service conditions.

"We are preparing the first projects within the reform, including a fair pay model, a new contract system with clear service terms and a transparent rotation logic, as well as new approaches to staffing our units," he said, commenting on the reform.

Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on April 30 that he ordered mandatory rotations for troops after reports that some soldiers had remained in front-line positions for more than 100 days.