A million for a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine: will big money incentivize young people to enlist?
In early February, information emerged about a special contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) for youth aged 18 to 24. On February 10, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the benefits that individuals signing a one-year contract would receive.
Contract with the AFU for Youth: What Benefits Will Ukrainians Receive?
According to Zelensky, the contract with the AFU for youth will include certain benefits, specifically:
- Free admission to higher education institutions without exams;
- Special mortgage conditions — 0%;
- Cash payments of one million hryvnias.
"I think it's a very decent offer for those who want to voluntarily serve for one year under contract. They can continue afterwards if they wish, but it's a one-year contract," — said Volodymyr Zelensky.
He noted that there are still many important details to clarify — such as the conditions, where to go, which unit to join. However, the official details of the contract with the AFU for youth will be announced in the coming days.
"But there are no specifics yet. I haven't seen the text of the resolution either. I believe that these contracts should be purely voluntary; there should be no mobilization of these youth categories — aged 18 to 24," — emphasized Oleksiy Honcharenko.
He is convinced that the youth who want to serve will join the army, while those who do not will continue their studies or work.
The Justice Issue: Benefits for Some, Nothing for Others?
"They promise money, but then fail to deliver; a person dies on the front lines, while on paper, they are counted as being somewhere in Lviv. Therefore, nothing is provided for them, and their relatives are left to chase after these funds. People understand that it’s not worth it; it’s better to wait out this period," — said Stupak.
He pointed out that the key question is whether the promises will be fulfilled.
When asked if the contract with the AFU for youth is fair compared to the service conditions of those already in the army, Stupak responded that certain payments are also planned for active servicemen, but he does not know the details.
The expert also believes that there may be resentment among some soldiers, but on the other hand, there will be a strong understanding that attracting people is necessary, and the state is creating such initiatives for this purpose.
Additionally, Ivan Stupak is convinced that after a year of service, the contract with the AFU for youth will be automatically extended.
What Do AFU Fighters Think About the New Benefits for Young Contract Soldiers?
"The question is purely about fairness for those who are already serving. Because it will appear maximally populist and unfair towards them," — believes the soldier.
He noted that the issue is not just about money, as the state can offer active military personnel many benefits or social packages that do not require a lot of money, yet are significant for the individuals.
"We need to completely overhaul the benefits system. You can get a piece of land by law, queue for an apartment, and so on. It’s ridiculous; everyone understands and knows that apartments are only given to special categories, and the land ran out back in 2015. The vouchers for veterans are no longer valid," — noted Yakovlev.
In his opinion, a unified system of benefits and incentives should be created for everyone. For instance, if a person signs a contract voluntarily, they should receive benefits, and if they are aged 18 to 25, they should have additional advantages.
Daniil Yakovlev believes that the government should focus not on those who might join the army but on those who are already in it.
"We want to attract new people to the army, but we don’t want to retain those who have been serving for a long time. This is maximally unfair and unseemly. Either give the chance to demobilize — one mobilized, one demobilized. Then there would be at least some fairness. Otherwise, it turns out that some get a lot, while others get nothing," — concluded the fighter.
The commander of the 24th Separate Assault Battalion "Aidar," Stanislav Bunyatov, noted that youth learn quickly, adapt to discipline, and find motivation where they see the results of their comrades.
"Against the backdrop of creating the new 'Drone Line' project, SBS, and many new UAVs across the brigades, it becomes clear that young personnel are needed... The 'Million for the Contract' (if it happens) is not just for show; it is aimed at recruiting people into the aforementioned units, as it is clear that 99% of this youth will want to serve in safer locations," — said Stanislav Bunyatov.
He supports the contract with the AFU for youth, and the fighter hopes that this initiative will yield results. Meanwhile, a lieutenant of the AFU with the call sign "Alex" finds it difficult to assess the potential effectiveness or feasibility of the contract for those aged 18–24.
"My peers and I signed contracts when they offered 25–30k UAH; some have struggled since the ATO and received nothing for their first contract. The essence is that back then, money was not the main motivation for joining the army," — wrote the officer.
According to him, as a bonus, the payments for the contract with the AFU for youth would not be unnecessary. However, he believes that first and foremost, favorable conditions for service must be created, providing a "green light" and maximizing support for the development of top units, increasing their numbers.
"People do not join not because they are paid little, but because they have negative stereotypes and narratives about the army; under such conditions, no amount of money will entice them. We need to think and act globally," — summarized the lieutenant.
Recall that on February 11, Bloomberg reported that the Ukrainian government would have to address the issue of personnel shortages in the army and lower the draft age to maintain Western support. Media sources believe that U.S. President Trump would appreciate a swift victory in Ukraine similar to the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.