“Contracts without end”: a wave of criticism erupts in the military after Shmyhal’s presentation of the new service system
4 November 2025 16:29
on November 3, Prime Minister and Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal presented a draft of new contracts for military personnel. The government stated that this should be the first step toward creating a “transparent system of service with clearly defined terms,” "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
However, the initiative immediately provoked a sharp reaction among the military, some of whom perceived it as an attempt to legalize inequality between mobilized, volunteers and future contract soldiers.
What is the essence of the new system?
According to the government’s announcement, the Ministry of Defense is preparing new types of contracts for 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years.
Upon completion of the contract, the serviceman will be able to receive a one-year deferral from mobilization.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the state seeks to create conditions under which “experienced soldiers will be able to stay in the army on a contract basis and pass on their knowledge to others.”
The government also promises new financial incentives, but no specific amounts or mechanisms have been announced.
How the military reacted
Soldiers Ilya Krotenko, Volodymyr Sheredega, Ivan Kostenko, Yaryna Chornohuz, and veteran Alina Sarnatska were among the first to criticize the initiative.
Krotenko called the initiative “another scam,” believing that after a possible “pause” in hostilities, the mobilized will be able to return home, while new contract soldiers will remain in the army – but without bonuses.
Sheredega questioned the fairness of the approach:
“It turns out that those who have been fighting since 2022 and those who have not yet served sign the same contract. Is it all from scratch?”
Poet and soldier Yaryna Chornohuz believes that “old contractors” should be offered to renew their contracts for a fixed period of time, rather than being trapped in an “indefinite trap.”
Veteran Alina Sarnatska said that under such a system, the duration of service for different generations of military personnel could reach 6-10 years, which she called “mockery.”
What supporters say
Not all military personnel criticize the changes.
Serhiy Hnezdilov , a fighter with the 56th Motorized Infantry Brigade , called the new contracts “a big step forward.”
He believes it will help streamline the service, but he called for a unified position of the authorities regarding the deadlines and stricter responsibility for evasion.
The issue of demobilization of the military who have been serving since 2022 remains one of the most sensitive in society.
After two and a half years without clear terms of service, the government is trying to create a new contractual system that would allow it to simultaneously retain experienced soldiers and attract new ones.
However, even among the military, there is still deep distrust: many fear that the new model will only rewrite old problems-without a real rotation mechanism or guarantees of dismissal.
