Since Tuesday, Kiev has encouraged young people to enter the army with lucrative military contracts, offering a million hryvnia (about PLN 965,000), social benefits and elite training for volunteers who registry before they are 25.
However, this decision angered any Ukrainian soldiers who voluntarily joined the army and inactive service despite the deficiency of prospects for demobilisation, and do not receive the same benefits as those offered to young people.
"The state devalues all those who voluntarily joined the army at the start of the full-scale war," wrote Masi Nayy, a Ukrainian soldier and prominent lawyer in a Facebook post.
"It seems that by choosing between unpopular decisions, they chose to disregard the motivation of those who already serve," added Nayy, who has served in the armed forces for years and lost his eye in fighting Russian troops.
Long List of Benefits
The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine launched this week's "Contract 18-24". The initiative promises the fresh soldiers about 23 1000 euro (96,5 1000 PLN), of which about 4600 EUR (19 1000 PLN) is paid immediately and the remainder for 1 year, in addition to the monthly salary.
The agreement besides offers interest-free mortgage loans, state-funded training, access to free medical care, including dental prosthetics, and the right to travel abroad. The Ministry claims that the fresh initiative aims to show that the army values its people in Ukraine and rewards them.
However, current soldiers receive an average of only 460 EUR (1900 PLN) monthly wage (by grade), plus an increase of up to 2300 EUR (9.6 1000 PLN) per monthIf they're leaving for combat missions.
Ukraine must pay salaries to 88 000 soldiers from the state budget, as western partners will not straight finance the armed forces. — Contract 18-24′′ does not concern coercion, mobilisation or duty," said Rustem Umerov, Ukrainian defence minister, in a message inaugurating the program.
The fresh law besides guarantees a 12-month exemption from mobilisation after the end of the one-year contract. “The Ukrainian army is changing into a modern, strong and agile force. "Contract 18-24" is simply a crucial step towards the creation of a professional upper-level army, in which all volunteer is an invaluable asset and an integral part of our defence force," concluded Umerov.
