Economist outlines three paths to boost military pay: state has 170 billion hryvnias available.

Three scenarios for raising Ukrainian military salaries, presented by an economist

According to Novyny.live: Ukraine's government holds 170 billion hryvnias earmarked for increasing military compensation, says economist Oleh Ustenko, who has laid out three potential approaches to distributing these funds. These proposals could directly affect the financial well-being of service members and their families, as well as the overall morale of the armed forces amid the ongoing conflict.

Breakdown of the proposed pay raise options

• The first scenario involves an equal distribution of 10,000 hryvnias across the entire military.

  “The first scenario could mean spreading the increase evenly throughout the army,” Ustenko stated.

• The second scenario targets significantly higher payments for troops stationed on the front line, with potential raises reaching up to 100,000 hryvnias per month.

  “We could raise salaries for those on the front line,” the economist emphasized.

• The third scenario combines a baseline increase of 10,000 hryvnias for all personnel in rear areas with an extra 50,000 hryvnias for combat soldiers on the front line. “This way, someone on the front line would receive an additional 50,000 for being there,” Ustenko explained.

Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko has already signaled that the government is reviewing military pay scales. Additionally, lawmaker Ruslan Horbenko reported that a basic salary hike to 30,150 hryvnias could take effect as early as June. These moves reflect the state's commitment to supporting its troops under challenging circumstances.

Raising military pay is seen as crucial not only for improving soldiers' material conditions but also for sustaining morale across the armed forces. With the war continuing and the need to retain skilled personnel, adequate funding for service members has become a top priority. Ustenko's proposals may serve as a foundation for future government decisions aimed at strengthening military support and enhancing service conditions.