Zelensky Promises Salary Increase for Military to 50-60 Thousand Hryvnias: New Contracts and Future Prospects
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky announced a significant future increase in the base salaries for military personnel, which will be a crucial component of reforms and a motivation boost for soldiers signing new contracts.
According to him, the new minimum salary under the contract will range from 50 to 60 thousand hryvnias per month.
Currently, the country is actively seeking additional funding and developing regulatory frameworks to implement these plans, which are vital for ensuring fair and transparent compensation for servicemen.Zelensky emphasized that this initiative aims to create equal conditions for everyone — for mobilized personnel wishing to switch to contract service, for those already under contract, and for newcomers eager to join the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the future.
These changes are expected to dramatically improve motivation and living standards among soldiers.Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal pointed out that the set amount of fixed financial support is based on results from five research surveys among military personnel.
He added that “contracts pertain to everyone — both active servicemen and mobilized troops, with contract lengths ranging from one to five years.” Additionally, certain benefits will be introduced — for example, after two years of service, contract soldiers will be granted a 12-month postponement from mobilization, which is an important factor for stability and planning their lives.Meanwhile, Member of Parliament Yaroslav Zheleznyak noted that the draft state budget for 2026 proposes to reduce funding for military salaries compared to this year.
It is expected that expenditures on the army will decrease by approximately 280 billion hryvnias, raising concerns about the government’s attitude towards defense and its future capabilities.