Ukraine Introduces Financial Incentives to Address Military Recruitment Challenges

The government seeks to attract younger recruits with reforms amid declining morale and structural challenges in its military system.

Ukraine is finalizing a new recruitment plan offering financial incentives and training guarantees to attract 18-25-year-olds currently exempt from mobilization.
The initiative, described as an 'honest contract,' aims to address shortcomings in the Soviet-era drafting system and bolster Ukraine's forces in its ongoing war with Russia.
President Zelenskyy remains opposed to mandatory mobilization for younger citizens, citing concerns over long-term demographic and societal impacts.
Public reluctance to mobilize reflects war fatigue, socioeconomic divides, and dissatisfaction with the uneven burdens of conscription, as shown in recent polls and public opinion data.
Corruption scandals and reports of low morale among forcibly conscripted soldiers highlight deeper systemic issues within Ukraine's military and governance.