President Poroshenko promises to raise payments to contract soldiers in 2018

Over 69,000 servicemen signed contracts to join the Ukrainian army in 2016, and another 25, 000 contract soldiers have joined the army this year.

President Petro Poroshenko stated this in the Verkhovna Rada in his annual address on the internal and external situation of the country, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“Last year, I took a very difficult, dangerous, but very correct decision - to completely cancel mobilization. The servicemen who voluntarily join the contract army make the basis of our troops. More than 69,000 people were enlisted in 2016. Another 25,000 people have been enlisted this year, according to the data as of yesterday," the Head of State said.

Poroshenko assured that next year payments for contract soldiers will be increased depending on the degree of risk and complexity of combat tasks.

At the same time, he recalled that in 2014-2015, six waves of mobilization were announced and about 200,000 male citizens were called up for military service.

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