Contract service is changing: the government has submitted a draft law to the Rada
Військовий ЗСУ. Фото - Генштаб ЗСУ
The government today approved and sent to the Verkhovna Rada a bill that launches a new system of contracts for the military .
This was announced by the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal.
The document was prepared by the Ministry of Defense on behalf of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and it responds to key requests from the army and society.
The new rules cover soldiers, sergeants and officers of all components of the security and defense sector – the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, the State Border Service and other structures. Contracts are proposed to be concluded for a period of one to five years , and servicemen who choose to serve for 2-5 years will be able to receive a 12-month deferment from mobilization after the end of the contract.
The government is also introducing annual financial bonuses and additional payments for participation in combat operations . Both soldiers who are already serving, as well as reservists, mobilized and conscripts who plan to sign a contract for the first time, will be able to renegotiate their contracts under new conditions.
Shmyhal stated that the Cabinet of Ministers is counting on the prompt approval of the draft law by parliament so that the system of new contracts can start operating in the first quarter of 2026 .
As previously reported, the Ministry of Defense allocated an additional UAH 2.1 billion for the purchase of drones and equipment for combat brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine through the DOT-Chain Defence marketplace.