Ukraine is preparing one of the biggest overhauls of its armed forces since the full-scale invasion began, with higher pay for soldiers on the front line and new contracts that would allow long-serving mobilized troops to be released. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the main elements on May 1, 2026, after a meeting with military commanders and government officials.

Zelenskyy said the reform must make the army “more adapted to the challenges” of the fifth year of the war, with a focus on managing personnel and keeping troops motivated. Details are to be finalized in May, with changes expected to be “felt in practice” from June.

Pay tied to combat exposure

The centerpiece is a pay system that rewards combat exposure and responsibility:

  • Rear positions: at least 30,000 hryvnias (about $680) a month.
  • Combat positions: “significantly more,” depending on the tasks performed.
  • Commanders: sergeants, officers and battalion, brigade and corps commanders will see pay “raised substantially.”
  • Frontline infantry: “I have instructed that monthly contract levels for infantry on the contact line be set at 250,000 to 400,000 hryvnias,” or roughly $5,700 to $9,100.

Zelenskyy called infantry the core of the front line. Drones and kill zones matter, he said, but it is infantry who hold the positions, and they should feel real support and respect from the state.

Clear terms of service

The reform will expand the contract system in the armed forces, setting clearer terms of service. That would make it possible to release soldiers who were mobilized earlier in the war in phases, an issue Zelenskyy described as “the most fundamental moral issue.” The defense minister and military command were told to work through the details with frontline commanders.

Other measures include guaranteed monthly replenishment for combat brigades, simpler transfers between units and the continuation of a direct-funding program for brigades.

Drone barrage the same day

Zelenskyy’s announcement came on a day when Russia launched more than 400 drones at Ukraine, including over 200 Shahed-type drones. Air defenses shot down 388, but some hit Ternopil, Zhytomyr, the Rivne region and Vinnytsia region. He said Dnipro will receive additional radars, electronic warfare systems and crews, interceptions over Odesa must improve, and partners are making new contributions to the PURL initiative to supply air defense.

Sources

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