Contract 18-24 years – what are the conditions, positions, brigades, why there was a scandal among the military – 24 Channel

Main points

  • The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has launched new contracts for young people aged 18-24, which provide financial support and social benefits for a year of service.
  • The first volunteers have already taken the oath and joined the army in the ranks of the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade “Edelweiss”.
  • The contracts have caused a mixed reaction among the military, due to unequal conditions for those already serving and new recruits.
  • 1 Million and a Year of Service: What They Promise Young Contract Workers
  • 2 Combat positions only: what are the contract terms 18 – 24
  • 3 Hundreds of appeals are being recorded: what do the teams working with contracts say?
  • 4 The first contract workers have already taken the oath
  • 5 Equal conditions or ignoring: what about those who already serve?
  • 6 Willing, unwilling, hesitant: who are the new contracts aimed at?
  • 7 Justice & New People in the Army: What the Military Thinks About Contracts
  • 8 The most important thing is whether the new contracts will work
  • 1 Million and a Year of Service: What They Promise Young Contract Workers
  • 2 Combat positions only: what are the contract terms 18 – 24
  • 3 Hundreds of appeals are recorded: what do the teams working with contracts say?
  • 4 The first contract workers have already taken the oath
  • 5 Equal conditions or ignoring: what about those who already serve?
  • 6 Willing, unwilling, hesitant: who are the new contracts aimed at?
  • 7 Justice & New People in the Army: What the Military Thinks About Contracts
  • 8 The most important thing is whether the new contracts will work

In the third year of full-scale war, martial law, and general mobilization, the problem of new personnel in the army is very acute. There are much fewer people willing to join the army now than there were, for example, in 2022. And despite this, Ukraine is forced to wage war against Russia, which surpasses us in manpower and equipment.

Against this background, Western partners, in particular the United States, insisted that Ukraine lower the mobilization age, the upper limit of which is currently 25 years. The Ukrainian side refused to take such a step. However, the idea of involving more young people who are not currently subject to mobilization remained and even developed.

The Ministry of Defense announced new 1-year contracts for citizens aged 18 to 24. By signing this contract, recruits will receive additional payments and a social package, and after the contract ends, they can choose to sign a new one or complete their service with a one-year deferment from mobilization.

But not everything is so smooth. The idea of this contract has caused heated discussions among the military. And although some support a new way of recruiting young people into the army, most still talk about justice for those military personnel who went to defend Ukraine at a young age without any “buns” – neither after the full-scale invasion, nor especially during the ATO, JFO.

So how will the notorious “18-24 contact” work in practice, what the Ministry of Defense says about it, what current military personnel think about the contracts, and whether the idea will work for the army – 24 Channel tells us.

The “18-24 Contract” was announced in early 2025, and on February 11, the Ministry of Defense presented what it would look like. It is a one-year contract for men and women aged 18 to 24, which provides financial benefits and a social package.

First of all, new recruits who sign a contract will receive financial bonuses in the form of 1 million hryvnias.

  • 200,000 hryvnia immediately after signing the contract;
  • 300,000 – after completion of vocational training and professional training;
  • 500,000 – after the contract is completed.

These payments will be made in parallel with the provision of a cash allowance of up to 120 thousand hryvnias, which is provided for military personnel, and additional payments for combat missions. In total, you can earn up to 2 million hryvnias per year of the contract.

In addition to money, the contract also provides the following benefits:

  • free travel on all modes of transport;
  • utility benefits;
  • the right to travel abroad after the end of the contract and a 1-year deferment from mobilization;
  • the opportunity to independently choose a place to take the VLK;
  • choice of unit and specialty.

For signing a contract and completing service in accordance with its terms, the state also promises recruits:

  • mortgage at 0.0% per annum within the framework of the eOselya program;
  • compensation for housing rent during service;
  • medical care, dentistry and dental prosthetics;
  • the opportunity to obtain higher education through a budget-funded form of education.

“Contract 18 – 24” / Infographics of the Ministry of Defense

However, of course, there are also complex requirements for those wishing to sign a contact.

While the project to recruit young people into the army on a contract basis is new, it does not yet apply to all units of the Defense Forces. The General Staff has identified 6 brigades that new recruits can join:

  • 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade named after the Black Zaporozhians;
  • 95th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade;
  • 38th Separate Marine Brigade of the Ukrainian Navy;
  • 28th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after the Knights of the Winter Crusade;
  • 10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade “Edelweiss”;
  • 92nd Separate Assault Brigade named after Ivan Sirko.

Men and women who want to sign a one-year contract can choose a specific position from the list of brigades presented, but their list is also limited. On the air of the national telethon, Defense Ministry spokesman Dmytro Lazutkin clarified the specific list.

These are combat positions, positions that involve risk. These are the positions of rifleman, senior rifleman, sniper rifleman, rifleman-medic, assistant grenade launcher, grenade launcher, senior grenade launcher, scout, senior scout,
– noted Dmitry Lazutkin.

That is, we are talking exclusively about combat positions in combat brigades.

In addition, the Ministry of Defense notes that they may refuse to sign a contract if they are not suitable due to their health condition, have addictions to harmful substances, etc. That is, potential recruits need to prepare for thorough checks at the military medical commission.

After signing the contract, recruits will undergo 45 days of basic military training, 14 days of professional training, and 14 days of adaptation in the brigade.

Denys Shvydky, head of the recruiting group of the 28th separate mechanized brigade, in a comment to Channel 24, emphasized that the new contracts are promising in terms of attracting new people, but at the same time notes that “Contracts 18-24” alone will not solve personnel issues in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. At least because those who sign a contract in February will not get to the front before May.

Regarding justice, Shvydkyi says that he understands those who are now talking about establishing a clear term of service, but at the same time he admits that there is no one to replace the current military, but new contracts could theoretically provide such an opportunity.

We are setting a clear term of service, the military is ending. Who will replace them? We have no replacement. And these contracts will now provide a resource of people who can replace active military personnel. People consciously sign this contract, they will know what money they will receive and how long they will serve. We can attract people who can replace those who are currently fighting, and this will allow us to set a clear term for those who are already serving,
– emphasizes Shvydky.

According to Shvydky, in the first 3 days since the announcement of the new contracts, the recruiting center of the 28th Motorized Rifle Brigade recorded hundreds of applications from people under the age of 24 who were interested in the contracts and the brigade. And about 50 people expressed a desire to sign a contract and serve in the ranks of the 28th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after the Knights of the Winter Campaign.

In the first week after the announcement of the new contracts, over 10,000 applications were received through Reserve+ for 6 brigades. Defense Ministry spokesman Dmitry Lazutkin noted that the department has certain forecasts on how many people will be recruited through these contracts, but these numbers are not disclosed so that the enemy does not use them for propaganda.

Viktor Samokhin, Head of the Marine Corps Recruiting and Training Center of the Ukrainian Navy, says that most of those wishing to sign a contract express a desire to become a sniper or scout.

Our youth is more driven, and for some reason they all want to be either scouts or snipers. We offer depending on the availability of positions, the number of positions we have is limited,
– said Samokhin.

The training of new recruits in the Marine Corps is somewhat different from that of other brigades. Samokhin said that the regular basic military training program also includes a Marine obstacle course, which consists of a 10-kilometer strip with a certain list of obstacles, both physical and psychological.

On March 9, 2025, the first volunteers under the “18-24 contract” took the oath in the 10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade “Edelweiss”.

Taking the oath at the Edelweiss / Photo from the Land Forces Telegram channel

At the same time, recruits of the 95th Airborne Assault Brigade, who have already received the first payments under the terms of the contract in the amount of 197 thousand hryvnias. The brigade shared a video where the recruits share what they plan to spend the received funds on. The fighters say that while they are at the BZVP – there is nowhere to spend money, but in general there are different options:

  • someone wants to buy an apartment for themselves or for their parents, or a car or to support relatives;
  • others seek to use the funds to open their own business in the future;
  • and some say they will use the funds to buy ammunition or a car for the front.

At the same time, many fighters say that they did not join the army to earn a million.

Previously, mobilization applied to citizens liable for military service, aged 27 and over, later the mobilization age was lowered to 25. However, now a huge number of people serve in the Ukrainian army who signed a contract and at that time were not under the mobilization age, but had just become adults.

Therefore, the announcement of new contracts raised a completely fair question – will those who joined the army earlier at that age receive the guarantees provided for by the 18-24 contract? And we are talking not only about those servicemen who are not yet 25, but also about those who are older but have not reached mobilization age at the time of signing the contract.

On Channel 24, Defense Ministry spokesman Dmitry Lazutkin said that a payment of 1 million hryvnia will also be provided for servicemen who joined the Defense Forces before the age of 25. This payment will be a one-time payment, since the contract has been signed and the BZVP has been passed. However, there will also be conditions for this.

The condition for receiving the award for this category of servicemen is their direct participation in military operations for 6 months, as well as the absence of facts of being held criminally, administratively or disciplinaryly liable. The award will also be paid in case of failure to fulfill the condition of six months of participation in military operations in the event of injury or captivity,
– Lazutkin said.

Dmytro Lazutkin's explanation regarding “Contract 18 – 24”: watch the video

However, it remains unclear how the mechanism will work. Dmitry Lazutkin noted that this point will be communicated later. There is also no clarification as to whether the one-time payment applies only to those who joined the Defense Forces after the start of the full-scale invasion, or also to those who were participants in the ATO and JFO. Although the number of defenders who joined the army before reaching the age of 25 and participated in battles at the front is unknown, it can be said for sure that there are thousands of such soldiers.

But in addition to 1 million hryvnias, active military personnel who have spent 30 days on the front line will receive additional payments of 70 thousand hryvnias.

The complexity of the issue also lies in the fact that so far, within the framework of the new draft contracts, the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff are working with only 6 brigades. And if we talk about payments to active military personnel, then we are talking about almost all existing units in all branches of the armed forces.

Another complicating factor is that during the full-scale war, the mobilization age was lowered . Until April 2024, citizens who reached the age of 27 were subject to mobilization. That is, until then, people aged 25 and 26 joined the army on the same principle as now 18 – 24. Therefore, the question arises – are 25- and 26-year-old citizens who voluntarily joined the army before the mobilization age was lowered entitled to these payments?

Obviously, the lack of announcements regarding specific payment mechanisms for active military personnel is related to the complications we listed above. And it is quite likely that the government does not yet have a final version, and work and discussions on these issues are still ongoing there. Therefore, the mechanisms will be presented later.

The 18-24 contract, against the backdrop of personnel problems in the Ukrainian army and news that Ukraine's partners insist on lowering the mobilization age, looks like an alternative. Instead of making an unpopular decision on mobilization, the state decided to encourage that group of people who can strengthen the army. After all, it is no secret that the army needs more young, strong, hardy and motivated people.

If we take any age group, including those from 18 to 24, it can be divided into 4 categories:

  • those who want to serve;
  • those who hesitate;
  • those who do not want to serve;
  • those who cannot serve.

The first category is volunteers. People who, together with veterans of the ATO and JFO, formed the backbone of the new Ukrainian army after the start of the full-scale invasion. Volunteers still exist, and if they are joining the army now, there were probably factors that prevented them from doing so earlier.

However, it is obvious that the new contracts are aimed specifically at the second category of people and the contracts are intended to encourage them.

The new contracts caused a mixed reaction among active military personnel. Especially among volunteers who joined the army when it was completely unpopular or immediately after the big war began. And at that time they were not even 25 years old, many of them were only 18, 20, 22.

But the wave of indignation among active military personnel has several reasons. The first is that those who were not subject to mobilization and signed a contract earlier (and it is signed for a minimum of 3 years) still do not have a specifically defined term of service, since during martial law, contracts are automatically extended. In addition, a significant part of the contracts were signed before the announcement of demobilization. Against this background, annual contracts appear with the possibility of being released after a year of service and receiving 1 year of armor from mobilization.

But this applies not only to those who are not yet 25, but also to all military personnel, especially those who met a full-scale invasion at the front or joined after February 24, 2022, in the first days of the invasion.

Alina Mikhailova, a military woman and head of the “Ulf” medical service of the first separate assault battalion of the Vovka Da Vinci named after Dmytro Kotsiubayl, sharply criticized the idea of new contracts in her Facebook post. In a comment to Channel 24, the combat medic added that these contracts are unfair to those who are already serving in the army. According to Alina, neither she nor her comrades have any illusions about demobilization. But the new contracts create precedents – someone goes to serve for a clear term, and someone no longer believes in demobilization.

I have no financial issues. I still want to be told when I will be released, when I can leave the army. Now it turns out that all the fighters who came to this (“contracts 18 – 24” – 24 Channel) are just some kind of used material. Fresh blood is needed and it is being lured in this way, completely dishonest. From a moral point of view, it is absolutely ugly,
– emphasizes Mikhailova.

The servicewoman also notes that she herself joined the army at the age of 21, and her fiancé, Dmytro “Da Vinci” Kotsiubaylo, was not yet 18. And they both were volunteers for about 8 years, without any payments or state guarantees.

We followed the idea because our state needed it. And if now young people need to be forced to go and defend their country in this way, then we have big problems with young people and patriotic education in general,
– says Mikhailova.


Alina Mikhailova / Photo from the military Facebook page

Alina Mykhaylova emphasizes that mobilization in Ukraine has failed, in particular, due to the lack of reform of the CCC and corruption in the VLK. Therefore, according to her, a comprehensive approach is needed to improve the personnel situation in the army.

We need a comprehensive approach to the reforms of the VLK, MSEK, TCC and all recruiting centers. Today, there are units where people volunteer. These are us, the “Wolves of Da Vinci”, “Azov”, the 3rd Assault, the 47th “Magura”, units of the SBU. They have their own recruiting centers. And if powerful recruiting centers were created on the basis of these units, basic military training that would guarantee a person that they will be taught something – this could, in my opinion, at least somehow correct the situation,
– emphasizes the combat medic.

At the same time, Mykhaylova adds that even if there is a freeze on the war, which is widely talked about in the information space, no one will leave the army and no one will disband it anyway, because the Armed Forces remain the only guarantee of security for Ukraine. Therefore, in such conditions, the current military feel hostage to the situation, which is also demotivating. In addition, the servicewoman says that, in her opinion, the people who make decisions regarding the army do not understand the real state of affairs.

The people who make decisions about the military don't understand the situation that exists in the military. They may not understand the sentiment or they may not fully grasp the reality. And they make popular decisions based on how they see it,
– emphasizes Mikhailova.

At the same time, a serviceman of the CODE 9.2 unit of the 92nd brigade and former head of the department for the development of electronic services at the Ministry of Digital Affairs, Mstyslav Banik (by the way, he also joined the army voluntarily in 2023), supports the idea of implementing new contracts. According to him, this is a good way to attract “young blood” to the army, which is so lacking. Also, according to the serviceman, this is a good opportunity for young people to prove themselves, gain experience and earn money.

The purpose of the 18-24 contracts is very simple: to motivate young people to join the Armed Forces, and in my opinion, they fully meet this task.
– says Banik.

According to the serviceman, there are many young people in our country who do not have stable jobs, and contracts are an opportunity to receive a stable income and improve their lives.

And such contracts, in principle, even service in the army with a combat salary of 100 thousand and so on, are their opportunity to earn money for housing, have a wedding the way they want, provide for their family, have children,
– emphasizes Banik.

Mstislav Banik / Photo by Channel 24

At the same time, regarding the fact that many active military personnel speak about injustice towards them, Banik emphasizes that the main task facing Ukrainians is to win this war.

As for the talk about injustice, I think we should not forget that the most important thing that is facing us now is the war for independence. And now the question is not who signed which contract, but who can join the army in order to, in particular, destroy the enemy. Especially since these contracts are designed exclusively for attack aircraft and this should be given due credit,
– emphasizes Banik.

Banik also noted that many people aged 18 to 24 are already contacting the 92nd Brigade's recruiting center to find out the conditions of service for themselves, because they are considering the option of serving there.

Former Chief of Staff of the 12th Special Forces Brigade “Azov” Bohdan Krotevych said in a comment to Channel 24 that he does not consider the new contracts fair, but notes that the world in general is unfair. The soldier also does not believe that these contracts devalue those who previously joined the army.

It doesn't devalue me, I joined the army as a volunteer in 2014 when I was 21 years old. And I don't blame those who didn't join the army until 2022. That's not fair either, but it's what it is. But those who are currently in the ranks of soldiers and are 18-24 years old should be able to re-sign their contracts,
– emphasizes Krotevych.


Bohdan Krotevych / Photo from the soldier's Facebook page

At the same time, Bohdan Krotevych emphasizes that the new contracts will not help solve all personnel issues in the Ukrainian army, but they may well help replenish the ranks of those brigades that are currently recruiting recruits under these contracts – perhaps. However, the officer emphasizes that Ukraine needs a complete change in the management system in the Armed Forces of Ukraine in order to motivate people to join the army more, since problems with management are the main factor in demotivation.

The goal of the new contracts is simple – to attract new and young people to the army, given the constant need for people in the army. And given that the contracts are aimed at Ukrainians who are not currently subject to mobilization, this is an additional resource (in addition to mobilization) that the state has.

However, the issue of fairness remains – the issue that some active military personnel are dissatisfied with the lack of service terms and the fact that the problem of demobilization has not yet been resolved.

The question also arises as to whether there will be enough funds to pay both new recruits and active military personnel who signed contracts before reaching mobilization age.

Of course, it's too early to make predictions, as the government, in particular the Ministry of Defense, still needs to do a lot of work. And it's important to have a dialogue with the current military, because they shouldn't feel like they've been “scored upon.”

But it is certain that new people will join the army. Some are even already in the process of applying to the aforementioned six brigades with a desire to serve.

Therefore, the story of “18-24 contracts” is just beginning.

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