Ukrainian Military Personnel to Begin Partial Release From Service This Fall

The partial release of Ukrainian military personnel from service is expected to begin in late fall this year.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said in an interview with the TSN TV program that the measure will apply to servicemen who have served for a long period.

According to him, a presidential decree will take priority over contracts signed by servicemen.

The Minister clarified that two criteria have been defined for release: length of military service and the number of days spent in combat positions.

“That is, if you, for example, have been serving since 2022 and have a large number of combat days, you can be released from service by presidential decree at the end of this year… Every month, this will be a certain number of servicemen.

Everything will depend on the situation on the battlefield: whether Russia will announce additional mobilization or not.

It depends on many factors. The process will be launched so that servicemen can return to civilian life,” Fedorov said.

The Minister also noted that servicemen who have been serving since 2022 and have heard about the introduction of a new release framework, but do not know whether it will apply to them, may sign a 24-month contract.

“And if you are released, for example, in November or December, the presidential decree will take priority. You will be released, even though you signed this contract,” Fedorov said.

When asked who will determine the order of release, the Minister said, “The General Staff, based on data on the number of combat days and length of service. We will create a calculator. Each serviceman will be able to check in which month they may be released.”

On June 12, Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced that the government had adopted a package of resolutions launching the first stage of what he called “the largest transformation of military service in the history of the state.”

According to him, the first stage includes a new contract system with defined terms of service and increased payments: for infantry, an average of about UAH 300,000 (maximum UAH 460,000).

The minimum salary for rear-area soldiers will increase to UAH 30,000, while payments for commanders of combat units, their deputies, and chiefs of staff will double, in addition to combat bonuses.

President Volodymyr Zelensky added that the Cabinet of Ministers will approve a specific mechanism, and the government is expected to introduce the first new bonuses in June.