Ukraine Aims to Fill Up to Half of Assault Infantry Positions With Foreign Recruits

Ukraine plans to open its military recruitment system to foreign nationals and aims to have foreigners fill as many as half of all assault and infantry positions in its armed forces, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said.

The proposal is part of a  broader effort to strengthen combat units while reducing the burden on Ukrainian troops fighting Russia’s full-scale invasion, Fedorov said in a statement.

“We are opening the foreign recruitment market to strengthen combat units and preserve the lives of Ukrainian service members,” Fedorov said.

According to the minister, the government’s goal is for foreign nationals to occupy between 30% and 50% of assault and infantry positions in the Ukrainian military.

Fedorov also said the government plans to begin gradually releasing from military service those who have spent the longest time in Ukraine’s armed forces and have served the most time in combat. The process is expected to start before the end of the year.

He described the initiative as only the first stage of a broader military transformation. A second phase will focus on overhauling recruitment and mobilization procedures.

Fedorov said the government is seeking to build an army with clear rules and greater respect for service members, adding that protecting the lives of soldiers remains a top priority.

Such an army, he said, would give Ukraine a stronger position from which to bring the war to an end.

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Zelensky announced a major military reform including higher pay, new infantry contracts, and fixed service terms of 10–24 months. Rear pay would rise to Hr.30,000 ($667), with frontline contracts averaging Hr.300,000 ($6,667). The plan also expands foreign recruitment and simplifies troop transfers amid ongoing wartime strain.

Zelensky said direct funding for combat brigades and more flexible personnel distribution have already shown results, alongside increased autonomy for units in training and staffing decisions.

“These are solid foundations for introducing fixed terms of service,” he said, adding that the effectiveness of the reforms should become visible over the summer.

Ukraine launches a major reform of its wartime military

Ukraine is moving to boost the financial resilience of its armed forces and overhaul military service conditions, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Zelensky on Friday said he held talks with Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, and Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko, with top military leadership backing the reform package.

The plan aims to strengthen defense funding, modernize contracts, and introduce clearer service timelines in an army that has been under wartime strain since 2022.

Zelensky said the government has the resources to raise military salaries, including a minimum of Hr.30,000 ($667) for rear-area service, with higher compensation depending on combat intensity.

He also announced new infantry contracts offering an average of Hr.300,000 ($6,667) for frontline positions.

“New, significantly stronger contracts for infantry will be introduced,” he said, stressing the central role of Ukraine’s ground forces.

Currently, the maximum base salary for infantry is about Hr.100,000 ($2,222) in frontline conditions with combat bonuses, while rear positions typically start from much lower levels.