Ukraine is raising compensation and introducing extended contracts for foreign recruits in high-risk infantry and assault positions, aiming to tackle a critical shortage of personnel on the front lines.

Yet soldiers from abroad indicated to Business Insider that the approach will succeed only if Kyiv convinces these fighters to remain past the shortest required period rather than departing immediately afterward.

"Additional personnel will arrive due to the financial incentive," noted Ryan O'Leary, commander of the volunteer unit Chosen. Still, he added that this alone will not resolve staffing shortfalls because of the pattern of short-term service by outsiders.

Last month, Ukraine revealed major updates to military pay structures, featuring elevated base rates, extra combat allowances, and fixed-duration agreements spanning several months.

Under the revised combat compensation framework, infantry and assault roles now come with agreements lasting six to 14 months. Participants can receive roughly UAH 300,000 monthly on average, or up to UAH 460,000 in peak cases based on time spent in active zones.

Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov called these rates the top compensation globally for such infantry duties, labeling them the toughest and most hazardous assignments currently available. The target is to staff 30 to 50 percent of these spots with international recruits.

These assignments carry extreme hazards, with forward positions frequently exposed to intense threats and drone activity complicating both survival and movement. Financial rewards can serve as a powerful draw, however.

"We observe growing numbers of foreigners arriving to serve, drawn by current compensation levels," Fedorov stated recently. "Further raises would pull in even more, allowing them to reinforce our defensive lines."

O'Leary noted that elevated pay paired with extended terms could prove effective if they encourage service of a year or longer. The core difficulty lies in the tendency for many to view six months as the maximum, yielding minimal benefit after training and equipping investments.

Once basic instruction concludes and a fighter reaches a combat assignment, little time may remain on a brief contract for actual operations, he explained. Longer options are therefore essential, provided the terms motivate selection of the extended path.

'Payment is essential'

International volunteers arrived in large numbers after Russia's full invasion began in 2022, motivated primarily by principles or political convictions rather than earnings.

As the conflict extended, conditions shifted, according to Kante, a foreign fighter using a call sign for protection. Fewer ideologically driven recruits remain, with many lost to combat or departure, forcing Ukraine to replace them. New arrivals increasingly cite financial motives.

Kyiv now vies not solely for those driven by ideals but also for seasoned combatants in an international arena. "To secure personnel, compensation must be offered," he remarked.

Kante, experienced in infantry and assault duties, stressed that pay must match opportunities elsewhere, such as contracts available to veterans from regions like South America considering service in places like Sudan.

Ukrainian service members see the revised agreements favorably. Yuriy, an electronic warfare officer identified only by first name, called the focus on foreign recruits "one of the best solutions" for personnel gaps.

"It serves mainly to plug holes in the ranks," said Alex, a sergeant with the 412th Nemesis Unmanned Systems Brigade, also using only a first name. Brave Ukrainians joined early and are now worn down or injured, while newer conscripts show less readiness for extreme risks.

Better value from training investments

Kyiv's recruitment drive occurs against a backdrop of severe, ongoing personnel strains more than four years into the invasion. Infantry and assault units suffer the heaviest losses, and maintaining strength has grown difficult.

The updated contracts and larger payouts offer a route to attract and retain more outsiders. Foreign troops emphasized that success hinges on whether improved terms prompt choices for longer service over quick exits after six months.

Even with recruitment efforts, fighters stressed that preserving the existing force should take precedence.

O'Leary observed that many sign for six months then depart or switch units, leaving scant return on preparation costs. He termed this cycle detrimental and urged equal attention to keeping personnel as to bringing them in.

Deeper factors, such as restricted access to digital military tools and uneven daily support, often drive departures after the minimum term. Addressing these may outweigh pay increases for long-term retention, he said.

"Permanent residency and citizenship pathways have been resolved, marking progress," O'Leary added, noting Kyiv must now ensure equitable treatment so foreigners feel aligned with local troops.

The defense ministry declined to comment on the initiatives at present. Overall, foreign fighters viewed the direction as constructive for keeping talent.

Charlie, a U.S. veteran and candidate for the 3rd Army Corps using a call sign, described the contracts and payments as "positive steps" to encourage extended service. "They recognize the value of this international group strengthening their forces and are taking measures to draw people in and encourage them to remain, rather than completing the shortest term and exiting," he said.

Longer agreements may appeal most to those seeking unique combat experience unavailable elsewhere, he added. "Right now, Ukraine offers the premier setting for that kind of exposure as an outsider."