Ukrainian officers will not be demobilized at the end of 2026
Ukrainian military officers will not be subject to discharge from the army during the demobilization of enlisted personnel scheduled for late 2026, due to the critical importance of their role in commanding the troops.
This was stated by Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Defense Mstislav Banik during a meeting with journalists.
The official emphasized that officers are the backbone of the army, upon whom the fulfillment of strategic tasks depends, so the state cannot afford to let them go home quickly. The Deputy Minister of Defense noted that officer service entails a different level of responsibility, and the nature of the service itself differs from that of infantry soldiers on the front lines.
Mstislav Banik also cited a personal example, noting that as an officer, he plans to sign a new 24-month service contract even before the official announcement of demobilization, so that upon its completion in two years, he will receive a guaranteed deferment from further conscription.
This was reported by the RBC-Ukraine news agency.
A digital mechanism for the return of soldiers after unauthorized absence from their units has been launched in Ukraine via the “Army+” app, which allows them to complete the procedure without unnecessary bureaucracy and immediately select a new unit. The Ministry of Defense says the system is intended to expedite the return of motivated soldiers to the most effective units of the Defense Forces.
Zelenskyy announced an increase in payments to military personnel: infantrymen will receive 300,000 UAH.
