In three years the Armed Forces will increase the number of professional army personnel by 100,000. The relevant decree was signed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his speech in the session hall of the Verkhovna Rada on 1 February.
According to the President, the document also envisages the increase of salaries for all military personnel up to the level not lower than three minimum wages. That is, the military should now start receiving at least 19,500 hryvnias per month (as of February 1, the minimum wage is 6,500 hryvnias).
In addition, the decree signed by Zelensky provides for:
Ukraine's transition to the basics of a professional army;
extension of the term of contract service;
development of the concept of housing for servicemen, veterans, members of their families;
career development system for officers; creation of additional 20 brigades of the Armed Forces.
"This decree is the start of Ukraine's transition to a professional army. This decree is needed not because war is coming soon. It is in order that there will be peace soon and further," Zelensky said.
It should be noted that according to the world standards, including NATO, the transition to a professional army envisages the existence of only a contract army. But whether this clause is in the decree is currently unknown.
