The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) are launching a large-scale reform of the pay system and contract service. According to an official statement from the Ministry of Defense, published in the Telegram channel of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian infantrymen will become the highest-paid combat specialists in the world.

Record payments for those on the front line

The key change is linking the salary amount to the level of risk. The closer a serviceman is to the line of contact, the higher his income. The Ministry of Defense announced specific figures: the average salary of an infantryman will be 300,000 hryvnias per month, and the maximum income can reach 460,000 hryvnias.

A significant increase is also expected for the command staff. The salaries of commanders of combat units will double. For servicemen in the rear, the minimum salary will be increased from 20 to 30 thousand hryvnias.

Three new types of contracts and transparent deferment

The Ministry of Defense announced the launch of three new types of contracts, each of which provides for clear terms of service and a guaranteed deferment from mobilization after the completion of the contract.

The following categories have been introduced:

  • Infantry-storming contract. Intended for infantrymen, stormtroopers, snipers, and scouts. Term of service — 10 or 14 months. This is followed by a deferment from mobilization.
  • Combat contract. Designed for combat positions, excluding infantry-storming ones. Term of validity — 24 months with subsequent deferment.
  • Basic contract. For logisticians, staff officers, and technical specialists. Term — 24 months. Such servicemen have the opportunity to switch to a combat or infantry contract.

The department clarified that the announced 6 months of deferment is the minimum threshold. In practice, the term will be longer. For example, an infantryman who has served 10 months (of which 4 months are directly on combat positions) will receive a deferment of 6 plus 12 months, which actually amounts to a year and a half.

Servicemen who are already serving under old contracts will be able to re-sign documents under new conditions, where the deferment will take into account the time already served.

"Mission Control" and international recruitment

To ensure transparency of payments and control over the presence of fighters on positions, a "mission control" system is being launched for stormtroopers and infantrymen. This innovation is intended to guarantee timely payments and speed up the search for wounded fighters.

At the same time, the opening of a foreign recruitment market is planned. The goal is to attract more than half of the legionnaires to the ranks of stormtroopers and infantrymen. Private recruitment companies will conduct the selection of volunteers and send them to Ukraine. Automatic transfers through the "Army Plus" service within the front section are also being introduced.

Special attention is paid to fighters who are temporarily unable to work (temporary disability). A temporary window is opening for them to return to service. Such servicemen will be able to choose a unit and a commander, after which they will return to the ranks.

Earlier, the Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported on large-scale changes in the structure of the AFU. Today, the Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Sviridenko also made a statement confirming the reform of salary increases for servicemen.