The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine is launching a comprehensive transformation of military service. As reported by Minister of Defense Mykhailo Fedorov, the transformation includes clear terms of service, fair pay, and a guaranteed deferment after the completion of the contract, UNN reports.
According to Fedorov, Ukraine is beginning the largest transformation of military service in the state's history. Today, the government adopted a package of resolutions that launches the first stage of this transformation.
What the first stage entails:
🔹 A new contract system is being launched with clear conditions and specific terms of service:
▪️ infantry-assault contract — 14 months for civilians, 10 months for active military personnel, and from 6 months for military personnel who previously resigned from service;
▪️ combat contract — 24 months for UAV pilots, robotic complex operators, artillerymen, EW specialists, and other combat specialties;
▪️ basic contract — 24 months for other areas of service with the possibility of holding rear positions.
🔹 Each contract has a guaranteed deferment of at least 6 months:
- The deferment is calculated according to the terms of service and time spent in combat. For example, in an infantry-assault contract, a month in combat is "paid" with three months of deferment. For instance, for an infantryman who served 10 months, 4 of which were in combat, the deferment will be one and a half years. Service prior to signing the contracts and before the full-scale invasion is also taken into account — time for rest is provided for all military experience;
- A person signs a contract and understands: where they serve, how long they serve, what their pay is, and what happens after service. The new contract can be signed by both current military personnel and civilians. Also, those already serving under contract will be able to switch to the new terms.
🔹 The world's highest salaries for infantry are being launched — on average about 300,000 hryvnias — which is about 7,000 dollars per month. The maximum is 460,000 hryvnias. Because today, the infantry is the most difficult and riskiest job in the world.
🔹 Mission Control is being introduced for the front line — to see the workload on the military, presence at positions in real-time, and to ensure the fairness of combat payments.
🔹 The minimum wage for military personnel in the rear is being increased to 30,000 hryvnias, and for the first time, salaries for commanders are being raised.
For commanders of combat units, their deputies, and chiefs of staff, payments will double, plus combat bonuses. Now a corps commander will be able to receive about 230,000 hryvnias per month.
🔹 Automatic transfers within one corps are being launched via Army+ without unnecessary bureaucracy.
It is better to give a person the opportunity to change units and keep them in the army than to lose them due to a lack of choice. Beta testing will begin in selected corps, and afterwards, the solution will be scaled to all Defense Forces.
🔹 A fast track for the return of military personnel from AWOL (Unauthorized Absence) directly to the top 50+ most effective combat units without BREZs (Reserve and Replacement Units) is being launched.
The task is to return motivated military personnel to the system. One can return to service online via Army+ or offline.
🔹 The recruitment market for foreigners is being opened to strengthen combat units and save the lives of Ukrainian military personnel.
The goal is to fill 30–50% of assault and infantry positions with foreigners.
Another key issue. Justice for those who have been in the Defense Forces the longest and spent the most time in combat. For them, we are starting a gradual discharge from service by the end of the year
According to the minister, this is only the first stage of a large-scale transformation. The second is a comprehensive transformation of the recruitment and mobilization process.
We are building an army with clear rules and respect for the soldier. A person's life is the greatest value. And our main task is to do everything possible to preserve the life of a soldier on the front line. It is such an army that is capable of giving Ukraine a strong position to end the war