Ukraine Boosts Military Pay Amid Manpower Shortages

Facing an acute personnel deficit after four years of grinding conflict, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has announced a sharp increase in military wages and a renewed push to recruit foreign volunteers. The initiative aims to stabilize the frontline by incentivizing service through higher salaries and new contract terms for infantry forces.

The government is set to lift the basic military wage by one-third to 30,000 hryvnias, approximately $700, with payments scheduled to begin in June. This fiscal expansion is underpinned by a €90 billion loan from the European Union, which has pushed Ukraine’s total defense budget to a record 4.4 trillion hryvnias, or $97 billion. Beyond the pay hike, the cabinet is finalizing a broader strategic plan to restructure army operations and address the persistent manpower shortage.

Zelenskiy also signaled an intent to expand the role of international recruits, building on an existing force of roughly 10,000 volunteers drawn from more than 70 nations. By offering fixed-term contracts and enhanced financial security, Kyiv hopes to retain current personnel while attracting fresh support to sustain its defensive efforts against Russian forces.