Contracts for 1-5 years: why the reform of service in the Armed Forces may cause indignation among the military

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced changes in the staffing system of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. From now on, mobilized citizens will have the opportunity to switch to contract service with clear terms and guarantees. This is a step towards a professional army, where war heroes will be able to remain in the ranks of the Armed Forces after victory.

"We would very much like many people who have acquired skills during this war, heroic individuals who want to stay in the army, so that these people can switch from mobilization status to a contract," the president emphasized. Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal detailed the initiative. The main innovation is fixed service terms from 1 to 5 years or more. "The main innovation is guaranteed clear terms of service. The contracts will be from 1 to 5 years.

For contracts for 2-5 years, there is a one-year postponement of mobilization upon completion of the contract," he said. According to Shmygal, after the adoption of the changes by the Verkhovna Rada, new contracts will become available to everyone: both active military personnel and newcomers. A significant increase in motivation is planned: increased monthly payments, signing bonuses, an expanded social package.

"We are working with the Government, the Ministry of Finance and partners, and in the near future we will announce all the additional details," the minister added.

Key advantages of the new contracts: According to military lawyer Oleg Leontiev, President Volodymyr Zelenskyi's initiative to transfer conscripts to fixed-term contract service is fundamentally correct, but contains significant gaps that could lead to discrimination against servicemen drafted in the first months of a full-scale invasion. "There is such a practice. If the servicemen refuse to sign new contracts on the proposed terms, they will have the right to go to court.

However, given the inflexibility of the Ukrainian judicial system, it will be extremely difficult and long," Leontiev tells Focus. The lawyer draws special attention to the situation with those who were mobilized in 2022. "These people have already served almost four years. According to the new rules, in order to receive the right to demobilization and a one-year deferment from re-mobilization, they need to sign a contract for at least two years.

That is, in fact, two more years of service after four years at the front. It seems unfair," he emphasizes. Leontiev emphasizes that the lack of transition provisions for the 2022-2023 veterans is a critical gap. "I don't see a regulation that would exclude these people from the obligation to sign a two-year contract to go on demobilization. Complaints about this among the military are very significant," the lawyer added.

The expert also emphasizes that the minimum term of the contract is currently set at two years in order to receive a deferment from mobilization in the future. However, by 2022, the situation was different. "Previously, until 2022, there were fixed-term contracts for six months. A person could sign a short contract, complete a combat mission, leave — and decide for himself when to return. As a rule, they returned.

Because they were called brothers, because there was motivation, because they saw the meaning," Leontiev explains. In his opinion, a return to the practice of short-term contracts, for example, for 6-12 months with the right of extension, could become an effective tool for maintaining a motivated staff. "Now, unfortunately, I do not see a solution to this problem in the announced model," the lawyer states. At the same time, Leontiev positively assesses the general direction of the reform.

"The key is certainty. They finally started talking about clear terms of service. Service in the army must be defined in time, understandable for the soldier, his family and society. This is the foundation of a professional army," the expert emphasizes. He notes: new contracts with fixed terms, the possibility of choosing a position, financial bonuses and social guarantees are a step towards European standards.

However, without correcting the discriminatory aspects for "veterans of the first draft", the reform risks causing a wave of discontent in the army. "The direction is correct. But the devil is in the details. If the interests of those who endured the most difficult years of the war are not taken into account, trust in the reform will be undermined," Leontiev summarizes. As a reminder, martial law and general mobilization in Ukraine have been extended until February 3.