Only 8,600 People in Ukraine Have Signed New Fixed-Term Service Contracts
About 8,600 people, civilians and service members combined, have signed the fixed-term military contracts introduced in Ukraine this summer. The Defense Ministry is reviewing soldiers' feedback and preparing a new contract system.
Roughly 8,600 people have so far signed the fixed-term service contracts introduced in Ukraine's armed forces in summer 2026. The figure covers both civilians and people already serving. It was given by Roman Kostenko, secretary of the Ukrainian parliament's (Verkhovna Rada) committee on national security, defense and intelligence, as reported by Ukrainska Pravda.
What happens to the contracts
Ukraine's Ministry of Defense is currently analyzing soldiers' feedback on these so-called motivational contracts. Based on that analysis, the team of Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara will decide which innovations from the experimental government resolution should go into a future bill on army reform. A ministry source who asked not to be named assured the outlet that service members who have signed will receive everything the contracts provide.
The ministry is also working on a new contract system. According to the outlet's sources, troops who see their future in the military will be able to sign long-term contracts with a "package of benefits." What the package will contain has not been announced.
How the reform began
The first stage of the latest army reform in Ukraine started in mid-June 2026. Contracts with clear service terms are among its main novelties, approved by the government in an experimental resolution. Three types were introduced:
- an infantry-assault contract for 6 to 14 months;
- a combat contract for 24 months, for drone pilots, ground robotic system operators and artillerymen;
- a basic contract for 24 months, for clerks, accountants, cooks and other rear-support personnel.
The changes did not meet the expectations of many service members, who called the reform "unfair" and "oriented toward new recruits."
For context, in January 2025 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the country's army had 880,000 personnel.
