The international delegation, headed by Ana Lucía Bueno, ICRC Public Health Coordinator, and Sujit Panda, Head of the Physical Rehabilitation…
Decent pay for service is the foundation of motivation and state recognition of every serviceman’s contribution to the fight for the country’s independence. The Ministry of Defense explains what monthly payments consist of and how combat bonuses are calculated.
Structure of military pay
Military pay is a state-guaranteed system of payments established in accordance with legislation and dependent on position, military rank, length of service, service conditions, and tasks performed. Its structure and amounts are determined with regard to the special nature of military service. Military pay consists of basic and additional payments.
Basic payments
These form the foundation of the monthly salary and are received regardless of specific combat tasks:
- Base salary: depends on the official position held.
- Rank pay: a fixed amount for the assigned rank (soldier, sergeant, officer, etc.).
- Length-of-service allowance: a percentage bonus increasing with years of service (from 5% to 50% of the base salary, rank pay, and other allowances).
Additional incentive and compensation payments
These depend on service specifics, qualifications, and working conditions:
- Allowance for service conditions: one of the key components, amounting to at least 65% of the base salary, rank pay, and length-of-service allowance.
- Allowance for service under restricted conditions: access to state secrets.
- Qualification allowance: class rating.
- Bonus: a monthly payment depending on personal contribution and discipline.
Combat participation rewards
A separate type of additional reward introduced for the duration of martial law (under Government Resolution No. 168 of February 28, 2022). It is not part of basic pay and is accrued based on task execution.
Main types of combat payments:
- UAH 100,000 — paid to servicemen directly participating in combat on the line of contact, performing fire missions against the enemy, or conducting flights / to sailors in combat zones. Calculated proportionally to days of task execution.
- UAH 50,000 — paid to command personnel performing tasks within military command bodies and headquarters conducting operational control of units on the line of contact.
- UAH 30,000 — paid to servicemen performing combat (special) tasks under combat orders, calculated monthly (proportionally), even if not directly on the “zero line,” but operating within designated combat areas or performing air defense / support tasks.
- Important: A UAH 70,000 one-time payment is also in effect for every cumulatively calculated 30 days (month) of direct combat duty on the line of contact (“zero line”) or on enemy territory.
One-time payments and social guarantees
The state also provides several payments to support servicemen in various life situations:
- One-time payment upon signing the first contract:
- enlisted personnel: UAH 26,624 (8 subsistence minimums);
- NCOs: UAH 29,952 (9 subsistence minimums);
- officers: UAH 33,280 (10 subsistence minimums).
- Health recovery payment: paid once a year in the amount of one month’s military pay.
- Material assistance for social and household issues: may be paid once a year upon request, subject to availability of funds.
Military pay is not a “privilege” but an expression of state responsibility and respect for those who risk their lives for Ukraine. Proper material support for personnel is a necessary condition for maintaining combat readiness.
