Briefly
The Ministry of Defence explained that the partial payment of salaries for December 2025 was linked to the specifics of closing the budget year. According to the press service, the decision was made to ensure stable funding and does not violate the law. All remaining amounts are promised to be paid in January 2026.
"The partial payment of monetary allowances for December, which took place at the end of December 2025, was caused by the specifics of closing the budget year. This decision was made to ensure stable funding and is not a violation of the law."
— Press Service of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine (according to the Department of Social Security)
Reason — the mechanics of the budget cycle
The ministry points to the procedures for closing the budget year. On January 6, 2026, the defence minister signed order No. 38/ud, which confirms: monetary allowances must be paid by the 20th of each month, and if funds arrive later — within three days after receipt. This means that the technical timing of funding, and not an intent to save on the military, was the main reason for the temporary non-payment.
"As of January 7, the necessary financial resources have already been directed to lower-level budget administrators (military units) to carry out the appropriate calculations"
— Press Service of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine
What this means for the military
According to official data, all remaining December amounts will be paid in January. The minimum level of monetary provision in the army is 20,000 UAH — this sum has not changed since February 2023 after the cancellation of a 30,000 UAH supplement for rear services. At the same time, political and personnel discussions are underway about a possible increase in base rates: previously the president and government leadership mentioned target benchmarks for new contracts in the range of 50–60 thousand UAH, and the defence minister spoke of priorities — new contracts alongside efforts to find options for increases.
Broader context: the budget and external support
The issue of payments is not only technical but also political and international. In July 2025 the president asked partners in the EU to help finance monetary provisions — a reminder that part of the stability of payments depends on timely international aid and contract signings. Experts note: while declarations of support are important, the key is turning promises into concrete tranches and contracts that stabilize financial flows.
Conclusion — no rhetoric, a demand for efficiency
The technical explanation from the Ministry of Defence clarifies the reasons for the delay, but it does not remove the question of systemic stability in army funding. If the state machinery and partners want to guarantee that service members receive their pay on time, declarations must turn into contracts and funds. Whether the coming weeks will be a test of that capacity is a question awaited not only by soldiers but also by society and international partners.
