How a new special contract for youth can change Ukraine’s mobilization strategy
13 February 2025 14:51
To attract young people to serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, they are offered a new contract that includes high salaries, social guarantees, and the possibility of free higher education.
In January 2025, the President’s Office announced that a reform was being prepared to attract young men aged 18 to 24 to the army.
In February, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the development of a special contract for this category of citizens.
on February 11, the president shared some details of the one-year contract for young people. According to him, citizens aged 18 to 24 who sign the contract will receive:
- uAH 1 million for a year of service;
- The opportunity to enter any university without passing exams, with tuition paid by the state;
- Mortgage at 0% per annum, with the state covering the interest.
The President noted that the initiative came from military commanders and the Ministry of Defense. The details were discussed with the commanders, in particular with Pavlo Palisa and General Moysiuk, as well as at the Chief of Staff. He emphasized that this contract is experimental and urged the public to wait for an official announcement.
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“This is a project that will be useful for those who are ready to serve for one year. They can extend their service if they want, but this is a one-year contract,” Zelensky said.
Why this option of mobilization has been introduced and, most importantly, whether it will work, read more in the article
Former SBU officer and military expert Ivan Stupak exclusively for
One-year contract for young people is an attempt to stimulate them
Stupak explained that the one-year contract offered to young people aged 18 to 24 is part of a new mobilization strategy. The terms of the contract include free education, zero percent interest on rent or purchase of housing, and the possibility of receiving one million hryvnias in rewards.
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“This initiative is undoubtedly interesting, but will it work in reality?” the expert asked.
He noted that while many young people who have already voluntarily joined the Armed Forces may benefit from these incentives, it is important not to forget the risk of not fulfilling government promises.
“We have seen situations where payments were not made and wounded or killed soldiers did not receive proper compensation. This causes dissatisfaction and reduces the level of trust in such initiatives,” said Stupak, adding that this could affect the effectiveness of the new mobilization strategy.
Risks of forced mobilization and its effectiveness
Ivan Stupak also commented on the situation with forced mobilization. He believes that attempts to hold young people responsible through incentives are partially justified, but it is difficult to achieve full success when people are not sufficiently motivated.
“On the one hand, we have significant losses among the military, and on the other hand, scandals and discontent among those who have not yet been mobilized are emerging against the backdrop of these losses. This only aggravates the situation and creates additional problems for future conscripts,” the expert said.
He also noted that, according to his estimates, the losses among the Ukrainian military already exceed 100 thousand dead, not including those who were wounded. This creates an urgent need to replenish the units.
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Mobilization through coercion: what’s wrong with the way the Military Commissariat works?
Dissatisfaction is also growing with the work of the territorial recruitment centers (TCCs). According to Stupak, their employees are often associated with corruption, ethical violations and physical violence.
“Mobilization through such methods only widens the gap between the population and state institutions,” he emphasized.
The expert noted that even after the war, many people will have a negative attitude toward the TCC workers, and this may have long-term consequences.
“Entrepreneurs are already starting to find out whether a person has worked in the TCC before hiring him or her,” said Stupak.
Despite all attempts to fill the staffing gaps, the situation does not look optimistic. According to Stupak, soldiers, especially new recruits, often lack proper training or motivation to fight. This creates serious problems in the army’s combat capability.
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“I know people who are already disappointed in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in particular because of the attitude towards new recruits,” he said, emphasizing that the current situation at the front creates an atmosphere of general disappointment.
What MPs say
Fedir Venislavsky, MP and member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence, emphasized that the special contract is part of a broader reform aimed at improving mobilization issues. He emphasized the importance of further steps to finalize all the details and introduce the necessary changes to the legislation.
“We are now waiting for official proposals from the President, after which we will consider all issues in more detail, including financial support and other aspects,” said Venislavsky.
In a conversation with journalists
“Despite all the jokes and talks of various experts who claim that young men aged 18 to 25 will not be able to make a significant impact at the front, I believe that they can make a difference. This is an important category that will give us additional opportunities,” he said.
The officer emphasized the importance of material motivation to attract recruits.
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“The monetary component is very important, and today it can be a major factor in attracting young people. It is one of the strongest motivators, especially given the current conditions,” he added.
Yevhen “Tykhyi” also emphasized the importance of training reserves to ensure effective defense. The officer also shared his concern about losses in the field:
“If we do not prepare reserves, the situation at the front may become much more complicated. Positions will be lost, and new reserves need to be prepared in advance to avoid being left without replacement.”
Thus, the introduction of a one-year contract for young people could be an important step in strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities. On the one hand, this contract provides young Ukrainians with high social guarantees, including annual remuneration, free education, and preferential housing conditions. On the other hand, it is a chance for the Armed Forces to build up the necessary reserves and cover personnel shortages. However, an important aspect is the implementation of this contract in practice. If the state fails to fulfill its promises, as it has in the past, the credibility of the initiative may be significantly reduced.
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