Ukraine's Ministry Of Defense Offers Work Contract To Attract Youth To Join The Military

JAKARTA - Ukraine's Ministry of Defense launched a recruitment program for young people on Tuesday, encouraging young people aged 18 to 24 to serve in the military for a year with a salary equivalent to $24,000 and a big bonus.

With far fewer numbers of Ukrainian armed forces than Russia on the front lines of the war that has lasted nearly three years, President Volodymyr Zelensky said last week the recruitment program would be launched soon.

Under pressure to bring more troops into the military, the Ukrainian Parliament last year approved a new law on mobilization that reduces the age of military service from 27 to 25 years and provides punishment for anyone who avoids calls.

"Change your life in a year," an interesting video on social media tells young candidates with army backgrounds who take positions and fire guns. "If you are 18-24 years old, you are a Ukrainian citizen and ready to change," he said.

In addition to the promised remuneration of 1 million hryvnia (USD 24,000), a large bonus is also offered plus mortgage and lease subsidies. The contract also offers a 12-month exemption from mobilization when the contract expires.

"Time is a bonus," he said.

"The doubt is minus," the post continued.

Posts on social media have promised volunteers "professional military training according to NATO standards and social allowances that you will not find in civil work".

In an interview last month with US podcaster Lex Fridman, President Zelensky said Ukraine had 980,000 gunmen.

Last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the number of Russian troops to be increased by 180,000 to 1.5 million active soldiers.

Changes to Ukraine's draft law have proven unpopular, with enthusiasm for war efforts further eroded by long-standing frontline tasks of soldiers who have not received leave since Russia launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022.

President Zelensky and other officials have rejected calls from the United States, Ukraine's biggest Western backer, to reduce the military service age even further.

Military bloggers seem to agree to the campaign.

"Young men and women study quickly, adapt to discipline, absorb unitary ideology, and find motivation when they see the results of other soldiers," Stanislav Buniatov, a volunteer soldier, said in a blog.

"The initiative is interesting," he said.