Ukraine’s Defense Ministry Boosts Military Pay Without Extra Budget Funding.

Increased Payments for Service Members

According to Novyny.live: Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has announced higher payments for military personnel, achieved without any additional budget allocations. This was made possible through internal audits and cost optimization within the defense ministry. According to Fedorov, the ministry received no extra funds this year compared to the previous one.

Specifically, the minister noted that competitive tenders saved between 16% and 20% on artillery ammunition purchases.

“A huge amount was saved because we started cracking down on corruption inside the Defense Ministry and moved everything to tenders with transparent rules,” he emphasized.

Drone Procurement and Bounties for Enemy Equipment

Additionally, over the last four to five months, more drones have been contracted than in all of last year.

“In the last four to five months, we contracted far more drones than in the entire previous year. And we haven’t even received the European loan or additional funds yet,” the minister said.

These measures reflect the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s commitment to using budget funds more efficiently while ensuring proper payments for service members amid financial constraints.

By cutting costs through tenders and procurement reforms, and by ramping up drone contracts, the ministry aims to strengthen the Armed Forces of Ukraine without relying on new budget money. This approach signals a shift toward tighter financial management and oversight in the defense sector—key to maintaining stability and improving military readiness in the current security environment.