Ukraine is preparing major changes to its military structure to attract more troops and stabilize the personnel situation on the front line. President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced an increase in the basic salary of soldiers by a third to nearly €600 a month, roughly equivalent to the average wage in the country.
Infantrymen deployed in combat operations are to receive significantly higher pay, with monthly earnings of up to €5,800.
The government is also preparing a new system of 10-, 14- or 24-month contracts for combat units. The measures are to be partly financed through a European Union loan of €90bn, which will bring Ukraine's defense spending to a record level.
Zelensky has also ordered an expansion of foreign volunteer recruitment, as the army continues to face a shortage of manpower after years of intense fighting.
(reuters, mja)