Cash bonus for fighting Russia: Inside Ukraine’s youth recruitment campaign

KYIV, April 25 (Reuters) – A new recruitment program in Ukraine promises an attractive salary, a generous bonus, and an interest-free loan for housing. The price, however, is steep: joining the frontlines of Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II.

Attracting young people, with their futures ahead of them, is a challenge. The initiative began with six brigades and has now expanded to 24. Although recruitment numbers remain low, Ukraine's defense forces, which have been fighting Russia for over three years, are in desperate need of reinforcements, as casualties continue to mount.

Pavlo Broshkov, one of the few recruits so far, views military service as a personal duty, wanting to protect his six-month-old daughter Polina from the horrors he experienced growing up during the conflict. “I don’t want my child to even hear the word ‘war,’” he said. At just 20 years old, Broshkov is also motivated by the financial incentives, including a monthly salary of up to $2,900, far above the national average of $520. Additionally, recruits receive a $24,000 bonus and a one-year exemption from mobilization after completing a year of service.

Despite understanding the importance of defending Ukraine, Broshkov's wife, Kristina, is anxious. “Death is chasing my husband now, and it could catch up with him at any time,” she said. Meanwhile, the young recruits prepare for deployment while Russian forces continue to advance along multiple fronts.

Ukraine's military, which counts 980,000 active members, continues to face a growing Russian force of 1.5 million, following President Vladimir Putin's order to increase the size of the Russian military. In response, Ukraine has enacted a draft for most adult men and lowered the age limit for conscription from 27 to 25.

The youth recruitment program seeks to professionalize Ukraine’s armed forces and move away from the unpopular forced mobilization. With an average soldier age of 45, officials hope this initiative will encourage younger participation. Serhii Filimonov, commander of the Da Vinci Wolves battalion, said that many young recruits have already joined voluntarily, motivated by more than just financial incentives.

Despite the low numbers so far, the program aims to attract younger soldiers. Oleksandr Moroz, a military instructor, noted that most recruits are drawn to the financial benefits, but acknowledged that money alone doesn’t motivate them to fight. “You have to fight for your friends, your family, for the future, not for a million hryvnias,” he said.

As recruits undergo training, they are eager to defend their homeland, take control of their futures, and potentially build military careers. Although many still have weeks of training before deployment, their motivations remain clear, balancing the challenges of war with the opportunity for a better life.