On 28 October, the Verkhovna Rada will resume its consideration of the draft state budget of Ukraine for 2027. Among the key issues is an increase in pay for military personnel. MPs are set to consider amendments to the budget bill, in particular Initiative No. 1279 tabled by MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak, which initially provided for an increase in the minimum pay for military personnel by at least 20%. The day before, parliament approved in principle a draft resolution on budgetary conclusions. The document was supported by 232 MPs.
- On 28 October, the Verkhovna Rada plans to complete its consideration of amendments to the draft state budget for 2027.
- Amendment No. 1279, tabled by Zheleznyak, originally provided for an increase in the minimum pay for military personnel by at least 20% from 1 January 2027.
- The Budget Committee supported the initiative but, at the government’s insistence, removed the specific percentage increase.
What does Zheleznyak’s amendment on military pay entail?
On 21 October, the Verkhovna Rada’s Budget Committee unanimously supported Amendment No. 1279 to the draft state budget for 2027. The original text of the document provided for an increase in the minimum pay for military personnel of at least 20% from 1 January 2027.
However, during the debate, at the government’s insistence, the specific percentage increase was removed. The amendment was taken into account alongside Amendment No. 1283 tabled by the Member of Parliament Anna Purtova, which provides for a review of payments to military personnel.
Zheleznyak He emphasised that there is a fundamental difference between a simple review of pay and a mandatory increase in pay.
Consequently, the version endorsed by the committee provides for the need to increase payments, but does not guarantee a 20 per cent increase specifically.
What will happen in the Verkhovna Rada on 28 October
On 27 October, MPs approved the bill in principle Draft Resolution No. 16000/P on the budgetary conclusions for the state budget for the coming year. The Budget Committee considered 5,236 amendments tabled by MPs and drew up 90 proposals for the document based on them.
According to Zheleznyak, on 28 October, parliament is due to vote on the remaining amendments and complete the first reading of the budget.
Once the budgetary conclusions have been adopted, the government will need to consider the proposals put forward by Members of Parliament whilst preparing the document for its second reading.
When might pay rises for military personnel be implemented?
The original version of Zheleznyak’s amendment provided for an increase in the minimum pay from 1 January 2027.
At the same time, even the approval of the relevant budget proposals will not automatically lead to a pay rise. In order to implement the Cabinet of Ministers’ decision, it will be necessary to determine the specific amounts of the payments and the sources of funding, and to amend the relevant legislation.
In the project state budget For 2027, 4.88 trillion hryvnias have been earmarked for the security and defence sector.
The final decision on increasing the pay of military personnel will depend on further consideration of the budget and government decisions.
