Ukrainian authorities have decided to radically change their approach to forming international legions. Instead of chaotic recruitment of volunteers, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the creation of a professional support system and established a fixed payment of 300,000 UAH for each recruited soldier.

As revealed during the Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko's and Deputy Minister of Defense Vasyl Shkurakova's statements during the government's question hour, the state is taking on the task of scaling the initiative to attract foreign military personnel. Previously, this process was unsystematic, leading to issues with the quality of personnel.

Professional selection instead of chaos

The key innovation will be the involvement of a specialized recruitment company. The agency will take over the full cycle of working with foreign candidates: from search and initial selection to passing the military-medical commission (MMC).

Deputy Minister of Defense Vasyl Shkurakova explained that the current situation with recruitment is causing complaints within the Ministry of Defense, primarily due to cases of desertion. The new system aims to eliminate these risks through thorough checks of candidates' health and motivation.

In the event that a foreigner is deemed unfit for service, the recruitment company will be obligated to return them to their home country. This should minimize the burden on military commissariats and increase the combat effectiveness of the legions.

Financial incentives and new contracts

The decision to pay 300,000 UAH per soldier was made to attract the most motivated personnel capable of effectively overcoming the enemy. Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko emphasized that the state is interested in creating a legion that will actually fight, not just be on the rolls.

This measure fits into the general context of reforming military pay in Ukraine. On June 22, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a law on changes to the state budget, which provides for a significant increase in military salaries.

New contract conditions for defenders include:

  • Additional payments for achieving specific combat results.
  • A one-time reward after signing the first contract.
  • An annual health resort allowance.
  • Special monetary rewards for eliminating the enemy or capturing Russian occupiers.

Thus, Ukraine is moving towards a stricter and more transparent model of army recruitment, where the quality of personnel becomes a priority, and financial tools are used to stimulate combat operations.