Pay raises, fixed terms, and more foreigners: Ukraine announces landmark military service reforms
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Editor's Note: This is a developing story.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced significant changes to the current system of compensation for Ukrainian soldiers, including higher pay, more combat bonuses and fixed contracts for infantry, as well as a fresh drive to recruit foreign fighters.
The changes come amid Ukraine's chronic manpower crisis, with many personnel exhausted after years of full-scale war without a path for demobilization and discharge, while newly-mobilized soldiers tend to be increasingly unmotivated, especially in the infantry.
The decisions were run by Ukraine's top military leadership after meetings with Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, and Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko, Zelensky wrote on social media on June 12.
Later in the day, Fedorov outlined the reforms in more detail. The information has also appeared on the defense ministry's website.
"A new system of military service is needed," the defense minister wrote, "a system built on respect for the individual, justice, and clear rules."
A pay raise for Ukrainian troops
Under the new reforms, which Zelensky claimed will be implemented over summer, non-combat roles will now receive a minimum base pay of Hr 30,000 ($670), up from Hr 20,000 ($335).
Ukrainian infantrymen — who often spend several months on positions due to a lack of replenishments and the difficulty of rotation — will receive Hr 300,000 ($6,700) for a month spent on the zero line, Zelensky said.
In the current system, those in combat roles receive combat pay of up to Hr 100,000 ($2,234), with additional benefits available depending on the circumstances.
The dramatic pay raise comes after Fedorov announced planned changes in spring for infantry and assault soldiers, whose jobs are widely seen as the most grueling and dangerous in the Ukrainian military.
According to the minister, the new monthly rate is the highest salary rate for infantry in the world.
"Everything rests on the Ukrainian infantry, on our Ukrainian infantry," Zelensky said.
Pay increases will also be brought in for higher-ranked commanders, in an effort to create a "positive stimulus for maintaining effective command," the president added.
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Contracts and transfers
In a major change that has been sought after for years by Ukrainian soldiers and society as a whole, fixed contracts of 6-14 months will be introduced for infantry and assault personnel. Upon the completion of these contracts, individuals will be exempt from mobilization for six months.
For other combat roles, including drone operators, artillerymen, and medics, 24-month fixed contracts will be offered, also with a 6-month grace period upon completion.
Zelensky also announced reforms to the current system of transfer between units, which has long been a pain point for soldiers stuck in poorly-run brigades, and often leads to soldiers going AWOL for the purpose of transferring to a more desirable unit.
According to Fedorov, transfers within the bounds of a corps (made up of around five brigades) will be made possible through the Armiia+ app without the need for extra bureaucracy, while returning from AWOL into the most effective combat units will also be fast-tracked.
An army of foreign fighters
To guarantee the sustainability of Ukraine's military, even after a potential ceasefire deal with Russia, Zelensky has on multiple occasions pushed for a transition to an army of volunteer contract soldiers receiving first-rate compensation.
In 2025, an attempt to attract young Ukrainians aged 18-24 into combat infantry roles with generous compensation and fixed terms of service fell flat — until it was expanded to the country's most elite drone units.
As part of a new drive to fill Ukraine's ranks from outside, the president ordered the creation of "significantly more opportunities to recruit foreign volunteers into the Ukrainian army."
Foreign fighters, especially those from Latin America, continue to play an increasing role in the Ukrainian army, often carrying out the very same unenviable infantry and assault missions.
According to Fedorov, the new foreigner recruitment drive aims to eventually fill 30-50% of the ranks of assault soldiers and infantry with foreigners.
