Ukraine announces reforms in the armed forces, including salary increases for frontline soldiers and gradual demobilizations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Friday a reform of the armed forces, which includes salary increases for frontline soldiers and the possibility of a gradual demobilization of soldiers enlisted during the war with Russia. This highly requested measure will allow for the demobilization of those previously mobilized, under conditions where current legislation limits demobilization to the cessation of the martial law from 2022. The minimum salary for non-combatants will increase from 20,000 to 30,000 hryvnias, while for combatants, the amounts will be significantly higher. The details of the reform will be finalized in May, and the first results are expected in June. Authorities are trying to attract contract-based soldiers, but efforts have not yielded the desired results so far, and the current system is marked by scandals and inefficiency.