Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the launch of an "army reform" that includes a "significant" increase in military salaries, among other matters. In a statement to US social media company X, Zelenskyy said key areas of the reform had been agreed upon over the last month and that all key details would be finalized in May.

According to Anadolu Agency, Zelenskyy stated that the reform would begin in June, with the first results expected during the same month, particularly in the area of financial support for soldiers, sergeants, and commanders of the Defense Forces of Ukraine. He emphasized the need for a "significant increase" in pay based on the principle of fairness, noting that frontline combat duties, experience, and effectiveness should guarantee increased pay.

Zelenskyy proposed that the minimum salary level should be at least 30,000 Ukrainian hryvnias for non-combat positions, with combat positions being several times higher. He also instructed the introduction of special contracts for infantry personnel, with payments ranging from 250,000 to 400,000 Ukrainian hryvnias, depending on the execution of combat missions.

The reforms also include changes to staffing and personnel management approaches. Zelenskyy emphasized strengthening the contract system in the Defense Forces to ensure defined service duration terms. This would allow for a phased discharge from service for those who were mobilized earlier, based on clear time-based criteria.

Furthermore, Zelenskyy instructed the country's military command and Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov to discuss the reform's implementation with combat commanders, taking their proposals into account. He expects a report on concrete steps to implement the reform, including the schedule for increased payments starting in June and the system of updated contracts, by next week.