Ukraine Faces Manpower Crisis: Zelenskyy Boosts Army Pay, Calls For Foreign Recruits
Ukraine is boosting military wages and foreign recruitment to address manpower shortages amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. President Zelenskyy confirmed significant pay raises and new contracts for soldiers, supported by a substantial EU loan. Concurrently, the EU has agreed to advance membership talks with Ukraine, while Russia criticizes Ukrainian drone strikes targeting its economy.
Ukraine is taking significant steps to address its military manpower shortage, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirming plans to increase military wages and enhance efforts to recruit fighters abroad. This initiative comes four years into the conflict with Russia, following discussions in May on boosting personnel numbers as peace talks stalled. Zelenskyy announced after a meeting with key cabinet ministers that a specific mechanism for increasing the financial resilience of Ukraine's defense and further transforming the army would be approved by the cabinet, with the first new payments expected as early as June.
These financial improvements are supported by a substantial €90 billion ($104 billion) loan from the EU, which will enable Ukraine to raise its defense spending to a record 4.4 trillion hryvnias ($97 billion) this year, with funds beginning to flow this month. The basic military wage is set to increase by one-third to 30,000 hryvnias ($700), aiming to match the country’s average monthly salary, which has seen a steady rise during the war due to staff shortages. Infantry soldiers on the frontline will see their average monthly salary soar to 300,000 hryvnias (about $7,000), a significant increase from the current 100,000 to 150,000 hryvnias. Additionally, new fixed-term contracts for 10, 14, or 24 months will be offered for combat duties.
To bolster its ranks further, Kyiv also intends to create significantly more opportunities and recruitment channels for foreign volunteers. Since the war began, an estimated 10,000 foreign volunteers from over 70 countries have joined the Ukrainian army, according to Ukrainian military publications.
In a related development, EU ambassadors agreed to advance membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova, with the initial phase of negotiations scheduled to commence on Monday. Zelenskyy, who views EU membership as a critical strategic goal, expressed his gratitude to the EU and its leaders for this