Government has expanded "Contract 18–24" project: it now applies to National Guard and State Border Guard Service
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has extended the pilot project that allows citizens aged 18–24 to sign short-term contracts not only with the Armed Forces, but also with the National Guard of Ukraine and the State Border Guard Service.
This was announced by the government’s representative to the Verkhovna Rada, Taras Melnychuk, according to Censor.NET.
Amendments were made to Cabinet Resolution No. 153 of February 11, 2025, titled "On the implementation of a pilot project aimed at increasing motivation among certain categories of Ukrainian citizens to perform military service in the Armed Forces during martial law."
According to Melnychuk, the list of qualifying conditions now includes one-time monetary rewards for the length of service in combat conditions, participation in combat operations in areas of active hostilities, including territories of Ukraine temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation, areas between the positions of Ukrainian Defense Forces and enemy troops, and on the territory of the aggressor state itself.
The list of staff positions for Ukrainian citizens aged 18 to 25 years is approved by the General Staff of the Armed Forces, the Main Directorate of the National Guard and the Administration of the State Border Guard Service in agreement with the General Staff of the Armed Forces.
In addition, for servicemen aged 18-25 who sign a contract, medical examinations, including those with a psychiatrist, have been simplified, and the list of staff positions for them will now be independently approved by the General Staff of the Armed Forces, the National Guard and the State Border Guard Service.
In addition, a one-time cash reward of 1 million hryvnias will be paid to privates, sergeants and sergeants major of all military formations and special forces law enforcement agencies who joined the army before the age of 25 during martial law and served in combat for at least six months, explained People`s Deputy Oleksii Honcharenko.
As a reminder, contracts for service in the Armed Forces for people aged 18 to 24 are voluntary. They are concluded for one year and include a "motivational component".
At the same time, contract soldiers will hold only combat positions, and during the one-year contract, volunteers will perform combat missions on the front line for six months.
