Ukraine to Revamp Military Contracts in 2026 to Boost Recruitment as Fighting Persists Near Pokrovsk

Kyiv, Ukraine – November 13, 2025: Ukraine plans to introduce new military pay scales in early 2026 as part of a broader effort to attract recruits and retain experienced personnel amid ongoing combat operations. Details outlined at a meeting earlier in November between Denys Shmyhal and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy include monthly payments of 50,000-60,000 UAH ($1,188-$1,426), contract durations of two to five years, and a 12-month deferral from mobilisation after contract completion.

New Contracts and Pay Scales

Ukraine’s updated military contracts add incentives aimed at stabilizing force levels following a dramatic expansion of the armed forces since 2022, with more than one million personnel now in active service.

Key terms and incentives

• Monthly pay: 50,000-60,000 UAH ($1,188-$1,426), depending on role and conditions.
• Contract length: two to five years.
• Deferral: 12-month protection from mobilisation upon completing a contract.
• Choice of post: New recruits may select a specific brigade and role, subject to operational needs and gaps in high-attrition specialties.
• Bonuses: Higher combat payments and signing bonuses that increase with longer contract commitments.

Authorities consider the 12-month deferral particularly attractive, reducing the risk that personnel who have completed terms are immediately called up again in a large-scale mobilisation.

Ukraine has steadily increased remuneration as part of its recruitment and retention drive. Before Russia’s 2022 invasion, basic military pay was around 13,000 UAH, nearly twice the average civilian monthly income of about 7,000 UAH. As of December 2024, a basic recruit in Ukraine’s Ground Forces received 20,130 UAH monthly.

Combat-related increments have also grown. Information from December 2024 indicated personnel could receive 70,000 UAH for conducting combat or special forces operations on the frontline or inside Russian-held territory. Signing bonuses rise with contract length, and additional combat payments apply based on role and mission intensity.

Digitising recruitment and administration

Kyiv is also pushing digital tools to streamline enlistment and management. Initiatives such as Impulse and the Reserve+ app are intended to improve efficiency across recruitment, training, and administrative processes. Digitisation could also enhance tracking of citizens’ eligibility and deferral status.

Battlefield Update: Fighting Around Pokrovsk

While the policy changes advance, fighting remains active along the frontline, with a sustained focus on Pokrovsk along the Vuhledar-Kurakhove-Kramatorsk axis.

External assessments

In its daily update on 12 November, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said Russian advances in the Pokrovsk area remained “relatively slow”, citing the absence of geolocated footage over the preceding 24 hours showing significant movement. ISW previously reported Russian infiltration into southeastern Pokrovsk and nearby Myrnohrad.

The UK Ministry of Defence did not mention Pokrovsk in its 11 November daily intelligence update, instead focusing on operations around Zmiinyi Island.

Air defense and claimed losses

• The Ukraine Ministry of Defence reported 162 tactical-level drones intercepted across Ukraine over the preceding 24 hours.
• Ukraine also claimed to have inflicted 1,000 combat casualties on Russian forces during the same period, bringing the total claimed since February 2022 to 1.154 million.

These battlefield updates underscore the ongoing attrition and the importance Kyiv places on maintaining manpower through improved pay, targeted incentives, and administrative modernization.

Why the Contract Overhaul Matters

The planned early 2026 pay-scale rollout signals an effort to stabilize force readiness for the long term. Allowing recruits to select brigades and roles-subject to operational requirements-may help balance unit cohesion with individual specialization. Meanwhile, the combination of higher base pay, combat bonuses, and post-contract mobilisation deferral is designed to strengthen both recruitment and retention at a time when combat operations and casualty risks remain high.

SEO context

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Conclusion: Next Steps

Ukraine is preparing to implement new military contracts in early 2026 featuring higher pay and stronger benefits to sustain its force. As fighting continues around Pokrovsk and elsewhere, officials are banking on financial incentives and digitised recruitment to maintain operational effectiveness. Updates from the ISW, UK MoD, and Ukraine’s defence authorities will continue to shape the picture of both the frontline situation and the personnel strategy underpinning Kyiv’s long-term defense posture.