Ukraine to raise military pay, recruit foreign fighters | PiQ Markets
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Ukraine to raise military pay, recruit foreign fighters
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IN SHORT
Ukraine is implementing significant military reforms, including increased pay for infantry and fixed service terms, aiming to address manpower shortages and attract foreign fighters. President Zelensky announced new pay scales, with infantry salaries reportedly the highest globally. Meanwhile, a controversy has emerged in the European Parliament, where dozens of members are demanding that President Zelensky be stripped of the European Order of Merit due to his decree honoring the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, which is accused of WWII atrocities. Separately, Ukraine's police chief accused Russia of recruiting young Ukrainian women via Telegram for targeted killings of Ukrainian military personnel, citing six cases this year. In a diplomatic development, Ukraine and Russia have agreed to restart prisoner of war lists from scratch following a meeting between their ombudsmen in Belarus.
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Key Numbers
sixcases of alleged Russian recruitment of women for killings
Who's Involved
Ukraine
country implementing military reforms and facing security threats
Volodymyr Zelensky
President of Ukraine announcing military reforms and honoring WWII nationalist group
European Parliament
body where members demand Zelensky stripped of award
Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA)
WWII nationalist group honored by Zelensky decree, accused of atrocities
Ivan Vyhivskyi
Ukraine's national police chief accusing Russia of recruitment for killings
Russia
country accused of recruiting women for targeted killings and involved in POW talks
Belarus
location of meeting between Ukrainian and Russian ombudsmen
Mykhailo Fedorov
Ukraine's Defense Minister highlighting infantry pay raises
Key facts
Ukraine will increase military wages and recruit more foreign fighters.
President Zelensky announced new pay scales and fixed contracts for infantry.
Dozens of European Parliament members demand President Zelensky be stripped of the European Order of Merit.
The demand follows Zelensky's decree honoring the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA).
The UPA is accused of ethnic cleansing and massacring Polish civilians during WWII.
Ukraine's national police chief Ivan Vyhivskyi accused Russia of recruiting young Ukrainian women for targeted killings.
Russia allegedly recruits women via Telegram for contract killings of Ukrainian military personnel.
Six such cases were cited by Ukraine's police chief this year, with one prevented.
Ukraine and Russia agreed to restart prisoner of war lists from scratch.
The agreement followed a meeting between their ombudsmen in Belarus on June 5.
Ukraine is undertaking substantial military reforms designed to bolster its forces and address manpower challenges. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced new pay scales and fixed contract terms for infantry, alongside expanded opportunities for foreign volunteers. Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov highlighted that the new monthly salary for infantry is the highest globally, a move intended to attract and retain personnel. These reforms aim to strengthen Ukraine's military capacity amidst ongoing conflict.
However, President Zelensky faces international criticism regarding a recent decree honoring the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). Dozens of members of the European Parliament are calling for him to be stripped of the European Order of Merit in response to this decree. The UPA is accused of ethnic cleansing and massacring Polish civilians during World War II, a historical context that has drawn significant backlash from European lawmakers.
In a separate development concerning security threats, Ukraine's national police chief, Ivan Vyhivskyi, has accused Russia of recruiting young Ukrainian women through platforms like Telegram to carry out targeted killings of Ukrainian military personnel. Vyhivskyi cited six such cases this year, with one plot being thwarted. The methods reportedly include using dating applications and poison.
On the diplomatic front, Ukraine and Russia have agreed to restart their prisoner of war (POW) lists from scratch. This agreement follows a meeting between their respective ombudsmen in Belarus on June 5, signaling a new phase of communication concerning prisoner and hostage issues between the two nations.
↳ Why This Matters
Ukraine is undertaking substantial military reforms designed to bolster its forces and address manpower challenges. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced new pay scales and fixed contract terms for infantry, alongside expanded opportunities for foreign volunteers. Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov highlighted that the new monthly salary for infantry is the highest globally, a move intended to attract and retain personnel. These reforms aim to strengthen Ukraine's military capacity amidst ongoing conflict.
Frequently asked questions
The basic military wage will be raised by one-third to 30,000 hryvnias per month.
Frontline infantry soldiers will receive up to 300,000 hryvnias for a month spent on the zero line.
Fixed contracts will be introduced for infantry and assault personnel, offering mobilization exemptions upon completion.
The government is expected to begin the first new payments as early as June.
An estimated 10,000 foreign volunteers have joined the Ukrainian army since the conflict began.
What Happens Next
01The Cabinet of Ministers will approve a specific mechanism for new military payments.
02New payments are expected to begin as early as June.
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