Financial support for the military: guaranteed one-time payments for defender

Service members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine receive not only their monthly service remuneration but also additional one-time payments. One of the types of additional one-time service remuneration is financial assistance. Financial assistances are one-time payments to improve service members’ social and financial well-beings, facilitate their adaptations to service, sustain their health, and address their personal and household concerns.

These include financial assistances for signing a first contract, for health improvement, for addressing social and household needs, and in case of discharge from military service.

“The Ministry of Defence is making efforts to enhance the material and social support for service members. As of today, we have a set of payments aimed at ensuring a decent life for active service members, as well as serving as an incentive for those considering joining the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” said Nikita Nikitenko, Acting State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.

The Ministry of Defence's Department of Social Welfare provides information on the types and amounts of assistance.

One-time financial assistance upon signing the first contract

This payment is granted to service members entering into their first fixed-term contract for military service. The amount in 2025 is as follows:

• UAH 24,224 for the rank-and-file service members entering into their first 3-year contract;

• 27,252 UAH for non-commissioned officers who sign their first contract for a term of 3 years or more;

• UAH 30,280 for the officers entering into their first contract for a term of 1 year or more.

Financial assistance for health improvement

Service members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are entitled to receive financial assistance for health improvement once a year when taking leave, in the amount of their monthly service remuneration (excluding additional remunerations).

Service members who are at disposal, temporarily relieved of their position, or suspended from duty receive financial assistance for health improvement in the amount of their monthly service remuneration for the last position they held, considering changes in length of service and the applicable remuneration norms for these positions.

Financial assistance for addressing social and household needs

According to the decision of the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, such assistance is provided to service members once a year in the amount of their monthly service remuneration, in the event that the following circumstances apply:

1) if a service member has a disability resulting from wounding (blast injury, trauma, or permanent disability) sustained in the defense of the Homeland;

2) to families of service members who were captured (except for those who voluntarily surrendered), as well as those interned in neutral states or missing in action;

3) as a result of an event that occurred in 2025 or December 2024, provided that the right to receive this assistance was not exercised in the year of the event, namely:

• death of a service member, their spouse, children, or parents;
• wounding (blast injury, trauma, or permanent disability) of a service member sustained in the defense of the Homeland;
• birth of a child to a service member, or the adoption of a child;
• health issues of a service member, their spouse, children, or parents, as confirmed by relevant medical records.

One-time financial assistance upon discharge from military service

This financial assistance is provided to service members upon discharge from military service after the expiration of their contract, due to family circumstances, position reduction, etc. (provided they have at least 10 years of service) or for specific valid reasons (health issues, etc.)

The payment amount depends on the calendar length of service as of the date of discharge, namely the number of full calendar years of military service, the grounds for discharge, and the service member's monthly remuneration as of the date of discharge.

Nikita Nikitenko, Acting State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, also reminded that the Ministry includes the Central Department for the Protection of Service Members' Rights.

The responsibilities of this Department involve overseeing the protection of service members' rights, ensuring their social guarantees are met, and supervising the timely delivery of medical assistance.

The Department also oversees the adherence to rights in service relations, including the right to leave and other service-related matters.