New rules for the army: what will change for those serving since 2022

Military personnel are promised more money and new terms of service: what's behind the Ministry of Defense reform

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28 May 2026

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The Minister of Defense Mikhailo Fedorov is to present to Members of Parliament by the end of May his vision of changes to military service. This concerns, in particular, new approaches to financial compensation for servicemen, service terms and the possibility of discharge for certain categories of servicemen who have been serving since 2022. This was reported on May 28 2026 by RBC-Ukraine RBC-Ukraine with reference to interlocutors in the Verkhovna Rada.

According to the publication, the current package of changes does not concern the mobilization process itself or the work of TCC and SP. The developments on these directions the team of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine plans to present separately to deputies in mid-June.

Earlier this week the Ministry of Defense team already presented proposals to members of the parliamentary committee on national security, defense and intelligence. Today, May 28, a presentation is scheduled for parliamentarians from “Servant of the People”, and the day before it was held for members of parliament from other factions and groups.

Among the key changes presented by the Ministry of Defense is an increase in the basic financial compensation for servicemen from 20 thousand to 30 thousand hryvnias.
In addition, it is proposed that servicemen who carry out tasks on the front line could receive compensation of up to 400 thousand hryvnias.

One of the interlocutors of the publication explained that the additional pay should depend on each day of performing combat tasks, their complexity and other conditions.

“That is, for each day of performing combat tasks, depending on their complexity, etc. – an additional payment of 20-40 thousand per day is planned”, – said one of the interlocutors.

Also, the Ministry of Defense plans to increase financial compensation for brigade commanders, headquarters, corps and the Commander-in-Chief. At the same time the ministry is developing a system of contracts that should be available not only to new volunteers, but also to those who have already been mobilized, entered the service through recruiting and are currently serving in the army. The main idea of this system is defined terms of service. For certain categories they may amount to up to two years, after which servicemen will be given a certain period for rest. The duration of such rest, according to the source, is still being discussed. For servicemen who suffered wounds, the term of service under the contract may be shorter.

“For certain categories they will be up to 2 years, after that they will have a certain period for rest, which is still being discussed. For those who had wounds – the term of service specified by the contract will be shorter”, – the source clarified.

It was previously reported that in Ukraine a large-scale reform of military service is being prepared. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced its start already in June 2026, in particular regarding the financial support of soldiers, sergeants and commanders of the Defense Forces of Ukraine. The main directions of changes were also voiced by Defense Minister Mikhailo Fedorov. Among the priorities were named a fairer salary model, a new contract system with clear terms of service and a more transparent rotation logic. Overall, the announced reform is expected to include several steps: salary increases, special contracts for infantry and phased discharge from service of previously mobilized servicemen based on clear time criteria.

For servicemen who from the first months of the full-scale war have been serving without clear end dates, this topic is one of the most painful. But for now this is about a concept to be discussed with deputies, not an already adopted law or approved decision.

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