At a Glance
- Ukraine launches contract 18-24 to attract youth
- Incentives include $24K bonus, $3K monthly pay
- Only 500 recruits signed on despite perks
- Existing troops frustrated over unequal benefits
Officials Push for Open Dialogue on Reform
The Ukrainian military’s high-dollar push to enlist young recruits is hitting unexpected roadblocks, with generous bonuses failing to translate into new boots on the ground.
Incentives for the Young and the Brave
In February 2025, Ukraine unveiled an aggressive new recruitment strategy dubbed “Contract 18-24,” targeting citizens aged 18 to 24 with what officials called historic incentives. According to reporting from the Kyiv Post, each volunteer receives a one-time signing bonus of 1 million hryvnias (about $24,000), with 200,000 hryvnias paid upfront. Monthly salaries can reach up to 120,000 hryvnias (roughly $2,900).
Beyond salaries, recruits are promised a suite of long-term benefits including zero-interest mortgages, free medical care, state-funded education, and even travel rights after completing one year of service. As detailed by Euromaidan Press, participants are also granted exemption from mobilization for a year post-service.
The program places new recruits in roles such as rifleman, sniper, or scout, with training designed to meet NATO standards. According to Militarnyi, the Edelweiss Brigade and other elite units are among the first to integrate these volunteers.
Watch Kyiv Post’s report on the program at “Ukraine’s Military Launches Contract 18-24”.
Enlistment Woes Undermine Strategy
Despite the extensive perks, uptake has been surprisingly low. As of mid-April, only about 500 young Ukrainians had signed up under the program, according to the Kyiv Post. Initial enthusiasm quickly gave way to hesitation, as cultural and personal dynamics took hold. Families, still hoping for a peaceful resolution to the war, are actively discouraging their children from signing contracts.
Colonel Pavlo Palisa, Deputy Head of the President’s Office, acknowledged the deeper issue during an interview with the Associated Press. He called for a broader public dialogue, emphasizing the need to modernize Ukraine’s outdated mobilization system, which he said still bears the hallmarks of its Soviet-era legacy.
Critics argue that merely throwing money at the problem won’t work if societal trust and internal fairness are lacking.
Fallout Within the Ranks
The program has triggered discontent among existing service members, who feel sidelined by the sudden influx of benefits offered only to new recruits. Alina Mykhailova, a Kyiv City Council member and combat veteran, voiced her concerns to the Kyiv Independent, questioning why earlier enlistees are “in a worse position” and demanding parity in service bonuses and social protections.
Adding to the pressure, Ukraine’s government is now scrambling to amend policies. According to the Ministry of Defense, Contract 18-24 has been extended to the National Guard and Border Guard Service, while eligibility for bonuses now includes those deployed to territories under Russian control or within Russia for at least six months.
In a bid to increase the program’s appeal, the Defense Ministry also approved reforms allowing recruits to pursue higher education while serving, as reported by Euromaidan Press. This dual-track approach aims to offer not just paychecks but career pathways to young Ukrainians.
Colonel Palisa continues to push for long-term changes, stating that structural reforms are essential “to adapt the military to the logic of modern warfare,” a sentiment he reiterated in an interview with the Associated Press.
Ukraine’s recruitment challenges reflect more than just logistical issues—they reveal the complexities of trust, fairness, and sacrifice in wartime. Whether the government can bridge this divide remains to be seen.
