"Honest Contract" from the Armed Forces: How Ukraine will stimulate 18-year-old guys to go to the army
According to the deputy head of the Presidential Office Pavel Palis, the "fair contract" plan contains financial incentives, clear training guarantees, measures to ensure a dialogue between the fighter and the commander. He noted that the plan is aimed at engaging 18-25-year-olds who are freed from the conscription. Moreover, it can help respond to the calls of Trump's administration that Ukraine could increase the numbers of the army by reducing the mobilization age.
"In fact, we have a huge mobilization resource. In my opinion, at the moment it exceeds what we need to solve certain tasks at the front. The mechanism we have now does not allow us to be as effective as we could be" , - said Pavel Palis. Former SBU employee and military analyst Ivan Stupak believes that the reform of voluntary involvement in the Armed Forces of 18-25-year-old men may be a reflection at the request of the United States. "Of course, it cannot be forcibly.
It can be such an intermediate option-okay, we do something, but not forced. Maybe someone from 18-25 years old wants to enter," said Focus Ivan Stupak. So Ukraine can offer a certain incentive, namely money, real estate loan, preferential importation of cars, etc. However, the analytics is difficult to say how effective such an incentive will be to involve young people in the Armed Forces. According to him, the main thing is that the state performs what promises.
"We have already seen with the military. Much has been promised, and a small part is being done," he said. Military analyst Dmitry Snegirev told Focus that in the plan of involvement in the Armed Forces 18-25-year-old is about material incentives. "The contract provides material and financial support, at the time of the contract-payments on participation in hostilities, and most importantly-a social package. And at the time of the contract-the possibility of obtaining higher education, etc.
,"-said Snegirev. In his opinion, it may also be a social package in the event of injury or injury, material compensation in the event of death. He is convinced that this should stimulate Ukrainians from 18 to 25 years to contract with the Defense Ministry. Snegirev recalled that now the conscript age is 25 years old, but there is some political pressure from Ukrainian partners to reduce it to 18. The Ukrainian political leadership will not reduce the mobilization age to avoid tension in society.
Instead, the authorities went through material stimulation. How effective is the involvement of young men will take time. "But given the experience of the occupier country, it is a very serious incentive for replenishment of personnel. For comparison, in the same Russia, the number of contractors for 2024 compared to 2023 has increased six times.
That is, appropriate conditions are created-financial support that will give The ability to receive a decent salary and the main social package from the state, " - said the analyst. According to him, the voluntary call plan is called a "honest contract" because a person, signing a contract, chooses a military specialty. That is, there is no forcible conscription and departure at the order that came to the shopping center.
"A person chooses a military unit himself, specialty and accordingly receives guarantees from the state. In fact, preconditions are created when a person is stimulated, makes a conscious choice about the protection He wants to go to the UAV operator, she is, to say the point, to be thrown into the assault, "he explained. When asked if Ukraine will be able to offer some bonuses to involve men under 25 years of age, Stupak replied that the main thing is to make promises.
He emphasized that Ukrainians like Western life, because there is confidence, a guarantee, in particular, if there is insurance - then it works. "If these promises are fulfilled, then there are no questions. But if, as usual, they have not fulfilled . . . Look, guaranteed payment - 100 thousand to our military. But they do not receive how much complained - they throw, delay, do not pay extra. They wave, "he explained.
Ivan Stupak added that people in the rear do not want to go to the army because they hear about these problems in the army. Snegirev said that the mobilization reserve of the Russian Federation is four times higher than the Ukrainian. Yes, Russia has a reserve of 15 million, and Ukraine is only five. As a result, the enemy constantly has an advantage in the power, while the main problem of defense forces on the front is not a lack of artillery ammunition or means of damage, but people.
"Therefore, these are the challenges that have been put to the General Staff of the Armed Forces. We need to form new crews and to replenish those already operating at the expense of this kind of contract. Even in this rather sensitive issue, "he added. We will remind, on January 23 the media reported that US President Donald Trump could insist on a reduction in mobilization age in Ukraine under 18 years. In particular, this can happen in exchange for military assistance.