The payment of 1 million under the “18-24 contract” will be valid not only in the Armed Forces, but also in the State Border Guard Service and the National Guard
1 April 19:15
The government has decided to expand the payment of a one-time cash reward under the “18-24 contract”. From now on, it will be available to young soldiers not only in the Armed Forces of Ukraine but also in the State Border Guard Service and the National Guard.
This was announced by the government representative in the Verkhovna Rada Taras Melnychuk, reports
Also, a one-time cash reward of 1 million hryvnias will be paid to privates, sergeants and sergeants major of all military formations and special forces law enforcement agencies who joined the army before the age of 25 during martial law and served in combat for at least six months, explains MP Oleksiy Honcharenko.
In addition, for servicemen aged 18-25 who sign a contract, medical examinations, including those with a psychiatrist, have been simplified, and the list of staff positions for them will now be independently approved by the General Staff of the Armed Forces, the National Guard and the State Border Guard Service.
Earlier it was reported that the program is planned to be expanded to two brigades of the National Guard of Ukraine, namely the 12th Special Forces Brigade Azov and the 13th Brigade Charter.
What is known about the 18-24 Contract?
In February, amid calls from partners to mobilize young people, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a new system of contracts for citizens under the age of mobilization. In this way, people who cannot yet be mobilized by law “will be able to prove themselves,” Zelensky said.
Contracts for service in the Armed Forces for people aged 18 to 24 are voluntary. They are concluded for one year and include a “motivational component.”
- a one-time payment of one million hryvnias (200 thousand immediately, the remaining 800 thousand in two installments for the duration of the contract)
- monthly cash support of up to UAH 120,000;
- provision of a “zero” mortgage;
- training at public expense;
- free medical care;
- the right to travel abroad after a year of service;
- exemption from mobilization for 12 months after the end of the contract.
At the same time, contract soldiers will hold only combat positions, and during the one-year contract, volunteers will perform combat missions on the front line for six months. Initially, contractors could choose one of 6 brigades to serve, and then the program was expanded to include 10 more brigades. To sign a contract, one will have to meet the requirements, and volunteers may be rejected due to health problems.
The government wants contract soldiers and conscripts aged 18 to 24 to be able to study at higher education institutions without interrupting their service – the draft law will soon be submitted to the President of Ukraine for signature.
After an outcry among the current military, the Ministry of Defense assured that volunteers under the age of 25 who joined the Defense Forces before the new contract for young people was introduced could also receive a million hryvnias.
It is worth reminding that the Cabinet of Ministers’ resolution on the implementation of a pilot project to increase the motivation of young men aged 18 to 25 to sign a contract with the Armed Forces during martial law did not initially refer to young people who are already serving in the army. The Ministry of Defense and the Cabinet of Ministers had to urgently correct the injustice, namely, to guarantee them payments. But with certain nuances. Kommersant Ukrainsky investigated who can count on the reward and who cannot.
As it wrote
