Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy boosts army wages and seeks foreign recruits to counter manpower shortage
Frontline soldiers to get better salaries and revised fixed-term contracts; Putin reacts to Ukraine’s increasing drone strikes. What we know on day 1,571
TL;DR
- Ukraine will increase military wages and seek to recruit more foreign fighters to combat a manpower shortage.
- The basic military wage will rise by one-third to 30,000 hryvnias, with frontline infantry soldiers earning around 300,000 hryvnias monthly.
- New fixed-term contracts for combat duties (10, 14, or 24 months) will be offered to soldiers.
- Ukraine has secured a €90bn loan from the EU to increase defence spending.
- EU membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova are set to begin.
- Vladimir Putin stated Ukraine's drone strikes aim to 'sow confusion' and damage Russia's economy.
- Ukraine has recently hit targets deep within Russia, including oil refineries.
- Russia's defence ministry reported downing 185 Ukrainian drones in a 12-hour period.
- Britain will fully ban diesel and jet fuel made in Russia by 2027, ending a temporary license.
- Existing sanctions on Russia are not being lifted, but new ones are being phased in.