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5h ago

Zelensky Unveils Big Pay Hike, Fixed-Term Infantry Contracts and Push to Recruit Foreign Fighters

Financed by recent budget amendments with EU loan support, the package aims to professionalize Ukraine’s armed forces through higher pay, fixed-term infantry contracts, expanded foreign recruitment.

Russian service members undergo an intensive combat training course in the Rostov region on January 19, 2026.
Russian troops take part in a Victory Day military parade in Moscow's Red Square on May 9, 2026.
A man walks past a contract army service mobile recruitment point in Moscow on July 6, 2023.
Russian service members take part in a ceremonial handover of supplies provided for Russia's army by the truckmaker Kamaz, in Rostov-on-Don in February 2026.

Overview

  • President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the reforms on Friday, June 12, saying rear personnel will get a minimum of 30,000 hryvnias and frontline infantry an average of about 300,000 hryvnias.
  • The plan introduces new fixed-term combat contracts for infantry of 10, 14, or 24 months with guaranteed temporary discharge after service and higher pay for combat commanders to retain leadership.
  • The Cabinet of Ministers and the Defense Ministry must design the payment and implementation rules and officials expect the first new payments to begin in June.
  • Ukraine is financing the measures through recent amendments to the 2026 state budget and disbursements from the European Union’s €90 billion support facility, which has already started to flow.
  • Officials say the reforms aim to ease chronic manpower shortages by professionalizing service and opening recruitment channels to foreigners while independent reporting shows Russia is facing growing recruitment shortfalls that could affect the war’s balance.