Ukrainian MP Ruslan Gorbenko announced that Ukraine is preparing a major reform: salaries for military personnel not deployed to the frontlines may significantly increase. The government is already working on new pay standards, which will bring them closer to NATO levels, reports Baltimore Chronicle, citing Vechir.LIVE.
The government, together with the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, is considering a significant salary increase for military personnel serving in the rear. This issue has already been put on the agenda by the President of Ukraine. Currently, the salary level in the rear, around 20,000 UAH, is deemed unfair, especially in comparison with the compensation for those serving on the frontlines. For instance, frontline soldiers earn from 100,000 to 200,000 UAH, while drone operators receive a bonus of 100,000 UAH.
Military personnel in the rear also perform crucial tasks related to logistics, coordination, supply, training recruits, and technical maintenance. As a result, the minimum wages are expected to rise substantially: for enlisted personnel, the salary will be raised to 50,000 UAH, for sergeants — at least 70,000 UAH, and for junior officers — between 75,000 and 80,000 UAH.
Gorbenko emphasized that the goal of these changes is to bring the Ukrainian army in line with NATO standards. For comparison, even those NATO soldiers who are not involved in combat operations receive a minimum salary starting from 2,300 euros, which is nearly 100,000 UAH.
“We need to create decent conditions for our military, otherwise they won’t want to stay in the army. Ukrainian soldiers should be equipped and compensated no worse than their NATO counterparts,” Gorbenko stressed. The government is currently working on identifying funding sources and preparing a draft budget change.
Earlier we wrote that martial law and mobilization in Ukraine extended for another 90 days.
