From pay raise to more foreign recruits: Zelenskyy announces Ukraine’s military overhaul amid troop shortage – Firstpost

As the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war continues to rage on for the past five years, Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a major overhaul to tackle the manpower issue in the war-torn nation’s military. On Saturday, the Ukrainian leader offered to pay
soldiers higher wages and to provide fixed-term contracts while expanding recruitment of foreign volunteers.

This is coming at a time when
Ukraine is preparing for its counter-efforts against the latest Russian aggression. In a video message, Zelenskyy said that the plan was aimed at improving the financial sustainability of Ukraine’s defence and continuing the transformation of the army after more than four years of war.

“We have the resources to increase pay in the military. The more combat missions, the higher the level of pay,” the Ukrainian leader said, adding that the minimum wages for troops serving in rear areas would be set at 30,000 hryvnias (€580) per month.

Apart from this, he also announced new infantry contracts that would offer an average of 300,000 hryvnias (€5,790) a month for frontline service; all this depends on the intensity of combat missions.

It is pertinent to note that currently, Ukraine’s frontline infantry can earn up to around 100,000 hryvnias (€1,930), including combat bonuses, while rear positions typically start from much lower levels. “Everything depends on our Ukrainian infantryman,” Zelenskyy emphasised.

Push for fixed terms and foreign recruits

He noted that payments for combat commanders would also be increased to retain experienced troops within the Ukrainian armed forces. Zelenskyy’s latest military overhaul is coming at a time when Ukraine is preparing to ask
allies for an additional $20 billion in military funding at next week’s Ramstein-format meeting.

The Ukrainian officials are looking to exploit what they described as a “six- to nine-month window of opportunity on the battlefield” against
Russia.

Zelenskyy said that the military overhaul would also introduce fixed-term service of 10, 14 and 24 months. This brings major relief to many mobilised troops who have served for years without a clear timeline for rotation or temporary discharge. The plan in question also includes easier transfer of soldiers, more opportunities for promotion, along with additional incentives to join Ukraine’s armed forces.

A course of action has been approved – to increase the financial sustainability of our defense and ensure the continued transformation of the Ukrainian Army.

First – pay. We have the resources to increase pay in the military. The minimum will be 30,000 hryvnias in rear areas.… pic.twitter.com/dr3Bzod4aA

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 12, 2026

In his statement, Zelenskyy said that he had ordered Ukrainian officials to open “significantly more opportunities” for foreign volunteers to join the Ukrainian military, with additional recruitment mechanisms to be introduced soon.

“We understand who we are dealing with and what Russia is counting on. Instead of peace, they choose missiles,” the Ukrainian leader averred. “They have no other cards left. We must rely on our strength and vigilance,” he added.