Full Breakdown
Ukraine Raises Military Pay and Expands Volunteer Recruitment Amid Manpower Shortage
6/12/2026, 11:41:16 PM
New Wage Structure for Ukrainian Soldiers
On 12 June 2026 President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced a one-third increase in the basic military wage, raising it to 30,000 hryvnias (? $700) per month. Front-line infantry salaries will rise to an average of 300,000 hryvnias (? $7,000) monthly, up from the current 100,000–150,000 hryvnias. The government will also introduce fixed-term combat contracts lasting 10, 14, or 24 months.
Context: Four-Year Conflict and Personnel Gaps
Ukraine’s armed forces have faced a persistent manpower shortage after four years of war with Russia. In May 2026 the government pledged to study measures to boost troop numbers after peace negotiations stalled, prompting the current pay and recruitment initiative.
Key Actors: President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and the Cabinet
President Zelenskiy, together with key cabinet ministers, led the decision. He indicated that the Cabinet of Ministers will approve a specific mechanism for the wage increase, and that the government intends to begin the first new payments as early as June.
Financial Backing: €90 Billion EU Loan Fuels Defence Spending
A €90 billion loan from the European Union enables Ukraine to raise defence spending to a record 4.4 trillion hryvnias (? $97 billion) for 2026. The funds are scheduled to start flowing in June, providing the fiscal capacity for the salary hike and related reforms.
Data & Statistics
- Basic military wage: 30,000 hryvnias/month.
- Infantry average wage: 300,000 hryvnias/month.
- Fixed-term contract options: 10, 14, or 24 months.
- EU loan: €90 billion.
- 2026 defence budget: 4.4 trillion hryvnias.
- Foreign volunteers: ~10,000 from 70+ countries.
Official Statements & Government Plans
Zelenskiy emphasized that the measures aim to strengthen the financial resilience of Ukraine’s defence and to transform the army’s structure. He confirmed that the cabinet will formalise the payment mechanism and that new recruitment channels for foreign volunteers will be created. The government expects the first salary adjustments to be disbursed in June, alongside the rollout of the fixed-term contracts.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We agreed on how to increase the financial resilience of our defence and further transformation of the Ukrainian army,” — President Volodymyr Zelenskiy
- “The Cabinet of ministers will approve a specific mechanism, and the government should start the first new payments as early as June,” — President Volodymyr Zelenskiy
- “I have instructed to create significantly more opportunities to recruit foreign volunteers into the Ukrainian army, and there will be more recruitment channels in this regard,” — President Volodymyr Zelenskiy
What’s Next: Implementation and Recruitment
The cabinet will approve the payment mechanism, with the first salary payments slated for June. The government will create additional recruitment channels to attract foreign volunteers.
