How to sign a direct contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine and join your chosen unit

The Ministry of Defence has explained how to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine on a contract basis and be assigned to the specific military unit that the candidate has chosen in advance.

The Ministry noted that Ukrainians can join the Armed Forces either through mobilisation or by signing a contract. One of the key advantages of contract service is the ability to choose one’s unit.

They advise starting this process by searching for a vacancy and a specific military unit. This can be done through the Armed Forces’ recruitment centres, specifically the recruitment centres of the Army, Airborne Forces, Navy, Strategic Missile Forces, Special Operations Forces and Special Forces, as well as through the recruitment centres of corps and military units – on the websites of corps and brigades or on their social media pages.

In addition, vacancies can be searched for via the Reserve+ app, the “Drone Line” service on Diia – specifically for positions such as UAV operators, ground-based robotic systems operators and others – through Ukrainian Army recruitment centres at Administrative Service Centres across Ukraine, as well as on job search websites that officially cooperate with the Ministry of Defence in the field of recruitment. These include LobbyX, Work.ua and Robota.ua.

The Ministry also advises preparing a CV in advance, detailing your education, work experience and relevant skills, as well as specifying your preferred areas of service. This, it is noted, will help the recruiter find a suitable position more quickly.

Once a position has been selected, communication with the military unit begins – either directly or via a recruiter. This stage usually involves an interview, a physical fitness test and psychological assessment.

The outcome of this selection process should be a letter of recommendation, also known as a ‘referral’ or written consent from the commander of the military unit.

The Ministry of Defence explained that this letter specifies whether the military unit is included in the priority recruitment list. If it is, the letter of recommendation must be taken into account. If not, the unit must obtain approval from the higher command to ensure that this particular candidate is considered.

After this, the candidate must apply to the Armed Forces of Ukraine recruitment centre or to the Territorial Recruitment and Enlistment Centre with the letter of recommendation. There, they must also verify their personal details and have a personal file created.

To do this, a set of documents must be submitted, including copies of the passport, identification code, educational documents, a CV, military ID, photographs, certificates of no criminal record, family composition and other documents.

The recruitment centre or TCC then refers the candidate to the military medical board and conducts a professional and psychological assessment. The Ministry of Defence has noted that a referral to the military medical board can be generated via the Reserve+ app without a prior visit to the TCC or SP.

If, during the selection process, it becomes clear that the candidate does not meet the requirements for the chosen position, they will be offered other positions within the same military unit.

After passing all stages, the TCC issues a referral for signing a contract at the military unit. The contract is signed directly by the unit commander, acting on behalf of the Ministry of Defence. Immediately after signing – on the same day or the following day – an order is issued for enrolment into the personnel.

Separately, the Ministry of Defence clarified that candidates who have not performed military service in the last 10 years or who were not selected for a specific military speciality are sent for basic general military training. This lasts 51 days, after which the serviceman reports to their place of service. In such cases, the contract is signed by the commander of the training centre.

The ministry also noted that contracts are usually concluded for a term of 1 to 5 years – depending on whether the individual is an enlisted soldier, a sergeant or an officer. For military aviation pilots, the term may be up to 10 years.

At the same time, due to Russian aggression, contracts with the Armed Forces of Ukraine are extended until the end of martial law.

This rule, as clarified by the Ministry of Defence, does not apply to the “Contract 18-24”, which sets clear terms of service – 1 or 2 years. An exception also applies to medics, psychologists and citizens aged 60+, who may sign a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine for 1 year.

The Ministry specifically noted that the “Contract 18-24” scheme is available to citizens under the age of 25. In addition to the specified terms of service, it guarantees an additional payment of 1 million hryvnias upon signing the contract.

Applications for the “Contract 18-24” can be submitted via Armed Forces recruitment centres, on the website 18-24.army.gov.ua, via the Reserve+ app, or directly at the recruitment units of military units.

The Ministry of Defence also reminded that from 2025, separate “Contracts 18-24” will be in place for UAV operators – with their own specific features and benefits.