Zelenskyy instructs military leadership to define service terms in Armed Forces and start demobilisation from 2026

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced changes to approaches to staffing defence forces units and personnel management as part of army reform.

Source: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter)

Quote: "I have instructed [Ukraine's military leadership] that the contract system in the defence forces be strengthened so that, by expanding the contract component, defined service duration terms are ensured and – starting already this year – a phased discharge from service becomes possible for those who were mobilised earlier, based on clear time-based criteria."

Details: Zelenskyy also instructed the military command and the minister of defence to discuss the implementation of the reform with combat commanders and to take their proposals into account while working on its details.

"Next week, I expect a report on concrete steps to implement the reform – including the schedule for increased payments starting in June and the system of updated contracts," the president noted.

Background: On 30 April, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, signed an order introducing mandatory rotation for service members carrying out missions on the front lines.

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