In the Ukrainian army, the financial line between volunteers and conscripts is blurring. Mykhailo Banik, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine, during a meeting with media representatives, revealed a key detail of the new pay system: the monetary support for fighters in the same trench is now identical, regardless of their status.

"If we consider the pay of a contract soldier and a conscripted infantryman sitting next to each other in the same trench, everything will be the same," the official emphasized.

The main difference: the right to deferment

Financial equality does not mean a complete merger of statuses. Banik pointed out a fundamental difference that determines the future of the serviceman. A contract soldier who has served the established term (for example, 10 months) gets the right to return home and receive a guaranteed deferment from mobilization. A conscript, receiving the same money, is obliged to continue serving until the moment of official demobilization.

This mechanism has become part of the large-scale reform of the payment system and service conditions announced by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. The goal of the reform is to create the most attractive conditions for the personnel.

Record payments and new contracts

According to the updated rules, Ukrainian infantrymen will receive one of the highest salaries in the world for combat specialists. The average payment will be 300,000 hryvnias per month, and maximum salaries can reach 460,000 hryvnias. For comparison, the minimum support for personnel in rear units has been raised to 30,000 hryvnias.

As part of the reform, three types of contracts have been introduced, each with its own time frame:

  • Infantry-assault contract — for a term of 10–14 months.
  • Combat contract — for a term of 24 months.
  • Basic contract — for a term of 24 months.

A key feature of the new conditions is the guaranteed deferment from mobilization after the end of service. The term of this deferment will vary depending on the time spent in the combat zone ("at zero") and the previous combat experience of the serviceman.

Recruiting and returning to service

The Ministry of Defense has also announced plans to actively attract foreign volunteers. It is planned to open the recruitment market so that legionnaires make up more than half of the personnel of assault and infantry units.

Special attention is paid to fighters who previously deserted. For them, the government is opening a special 100-day window for an official return to service. Rehabilitation is possible by submitting digital reports in the "Army+" application or through recruitment centers.