“$500 a month for soldiers at war.” A former Ukrainian minister blasts stagnant military salaries, warning troops cannot survive or support families after years without indexation.
A former Ukrainian social policy minister has sharply criticized the country’s military pay system, warning that stagnant salaries are leaving servicemen struggling to survive.
According to remarks shared on X, some Ukrainian troops have been earning a base salary of 20,000 hryvnias (roughly $500) for the past four years without any indexation or increase.
“This is a disgrace for the state,” the former official said, arguing that the current level of pay is insufficient for servicemen to meet basic living needs or support their families.
The criticism also pushed back against arguments that lower pay is justified for personnel stationed away from the front lines. The former minister noted that time spent in the rear typically includes recovery, coordination, retraining, and rehabilitation after combat deployments—not a reduction in service demands.
Unlike civilians, servicemen are unable to supplement their income with additional jobs or leave their positions in search of better pay, making their military salary their sole source of income.
“In a situation where billions are being spent, failing to address the most basic issue—military pay—is unacceptable,” the former minister said.
The comments highlight growing concerns over financial sustainability and morale within Ukraine’s armed forces as the war continues into its fourth year.
Tags: defense policy Eastern Europe military salaries social policy ukraine war ukrainian army war economy Zelensky government
