Demobilisation, contracts and new pay scales: Ukraine is preparing a major reform of the armed forces
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced the start of a new phase in military reform. The authorities plan to overhaul approaches to mobilisation, demobilisation and the pay of military personnel against the backdrop of a protracted war and public demand for clear rules of service.
According to sources within the government and military leadership, the reform is currently being developed jointly by representatives of the Ministry of Defence, the General Staff and the Office of the President. One of the key decisions could be the introduction of a contract system with fixed terms of service.
Several types of contracts are currently under discussion. For serving military personnel in combat roles, a service term of 10 months may be established; for recruits in combat zones, 14 months; and for other roles, such as UAV operators, medics or media personnel, up to two years.
Upon completion of their contract, servicemen will be entitled to demobilisation and exemption from re-conscription. At the same time, according to preliminary proposals, previous periods of service will not count towards a new contract, a move that is already sparking debate among the military.
A separate part of the reform concerns salaries. The minimum pay for military personnel in the rear is planned to be increased from 20,000 to 30,000 hryvnias. For commanders at various levels, payments could almost double.
The biggest changes will affect combat units. Government officials are proposing a ‘10/20/40’ remuneration system:
- 10,000 hryvnias — for each day spent at a position;
- 20,000 hryvnias — for carrying out strike and reconnaissance missions;
- 40,000 hryvnias — for participation in active assault operations.
According to preliminary estimates, military personnel who regularly carry out combat missions will be able to receive between 250,000 and 400,000 hryvnias per month.
Another stage of the reform is set to be the overhaul of the TCC system. The Ministry of Defence proposes transforming the territorial recruitment centres into “Reserve+ Offices”. These are planned to be divided into two areas: recruitment and social support.
The former will handle recruitment, mobilisation and enlistment, whilst the latter will deal with payments, documentation, and assistance for the wounded and the families of fallen soldiers. Some of these processes are set to be digitised.
However, no final decisions have been made yet. Most initiatives have not yet been drafted into bills or government resolutions, and discussions are ongoing between the Ministry of Defence, the General Staff and law enforcement agencies regarding mobilisation mechanisms and the role of the police in the work of the territorial recruitment centres.
Despite the ambitious promises, the issue of funding the reform also remains unresolved. According to government sources, increasing payments to military personnel alone could require at least 60 billion hryvnias by the end of 2026.
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