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The question of salaries in the Armed Forces of Ukraine (officially called monetary support) is one of the main ones that interests foreign volunteers. Today we will tell you the basic rules for accruing money in the Ukrainian military service.

Cash payments are not made until arrival in Ukraine and signing a contract. Salary accrual begins from the first day of signing the contract. It is credited to the serviceman's personal bank card, which is opened in one of the Ukrainian banks. You can withdraw cash, pay for the service with a card or send a money transfer abroad.

It is important to know: military salaries for Ukrainian citizens and foreign volunteers are the same.

For the period of training at the Training Center (lasting from 30 days to 6 weeks), staying outside the combat zone (now this is a rarity), the financial support is about 490 US dollars. After completing training and starting service in a combat zone, cash payments increase.

The combat zone and the tasks performed by servicemen are different. Therefore, we have 4 types of payments that depend on where the serviceman is located.

If a serviceman performs combat or special tasks outside a combat zone, he receives an additional $715.

If he performs combat or special tasks as part of a military command body, a headquarters of a group of troops, a tactical group headquarters, or other similar bodies, he receives an additional $1,190.

The most likely service option is direct participation in combat operations. Here, the additional cash reward is $2,380 per month.

It is important to clarify that such amounts are paid for a full month of stay in a combat zone and the performance of combat and special tasks. That is, if you directly participate in combat operations for 15 days, then your payment will be: $ 490 + $ 1190 combat pay for 15 days. So in total: $ 1680 per month.

In addition, an additional payment of $ 1670 is paid. It is paid when a serviceman is on combat missions for a full 30 days. For example, one month a serviceman took direct part in combat operations for 15 days, in another also for 15 days. As a result, at the end of the second month he will receive an additional $ 1670. So in 2 months his salary will be $ 5030.

Many foreigners perform combat or special tasks in a combat zone for 30 days. So in a month such a serviceman can receive $ 4540. On average, a Ukrainian serviceman, including a foreign volunteer performing tasks on the front line, will receive $3-4 thousand per month.

You can read or watch more about how to optimally get to Ukraine from Latin American countries here.  

You can read or watch more about what to take with you on a trip to Ukraine here.  

You can read or watch the appeal of the authorized representative of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine for foreign volunteers Oleksiy Bezhevets here.  

The luggage you need to take with you on a trip to Ukraine should not be bulky. To avoid additional costs for transporting unnecessary items, remember that the hand luggage that you can take with you into the cabin of the plane is limited to a maximum of 10 kilograms. It will be optimal to put things in a backpack.

Keep in mind that upon arrival at the military unit and enrollment in the unit, you will be given all the necessary equipment. You will receive from several jackets and boots to several sets of underwear and socks, depending on the summer or winter season.

Therefore, when traveling to Ukraine, you should put in your backpack:

- two T-shirts,

- four pairs of underwear,

- two pairs of socks,

- spare pants,

- a warm sweater or jacket.

It is also worth taking a spare pair of closed comfortable shoes. Sneakers are best suited. Don't forget about personal hygiene products.

Ukraine is a developed country where you can find and buy everything you need at reasonable prices.

The main thing is to remember to bring the documents and necessary things that you should always have with you:

- passport,

- travel tickets,

- printed invitation letter to the Armed Forces of Ukraine,

- mobile phone and portable charger.

Also take a certain amount of cash in euros or US dollars, preferably in small bills.

We wish you all a good trip and welcome to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Glory to Ukraine!

You can read or watch more about how to optimally get to Ukraine from Latin American countries here.

You can read or watch the address of the authorized representative of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine on issues Oleksiy Bezhevets to foreign volunteers here.   

An official invitation letter is needed to avoid problems during your trip to Ukraine. If when crossing the border, migration officers ask for a return ticket, you just need to present this official letter. Having an invitation letter does not exempt you from the need to have a visa if the transfer from your country requires one.

To receive this invitation letter, you need to fill out a form on our website. After that, a recruiter will contact you and conduct a short interview. If you are selected, the letter will be sent to you by e-mail or WhatsApp. We emphasize that the invitation letter is provided free of charge.

Pay attention to what the official invitation letter looks like. It is written in two languages: Ukrainian and the language of your country. At the top is the logo of the Foreigners Recruitment Center, which is located in the Ukrainian city of Ternopil. It also contains your personal information: name and surname, date of birth, citizenship. At the bottom is the commander’s signature and the seal of the Foreign Recruitment Center of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. The letter also contains the phone number of the Center on duty, which is open 24 hours a day. When crossing the border or in another case, an official can call this number and they will confirm the information about the purpose of your visit to Ukraine.

You can read or watch more about how to optimally get to Ukraine from Latin American countries here. 

You can read or watch the story of a Brazilian volunteer who tells about his own experience of participating in combat operations and modern warfare here.  

You can read or watch the address of the authorized representative of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine on issues Oleksiy Bezhevets to foreign volunteers here.  

Step-by-step instructions on how to register to join the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

1- When you receive the automatic message, you will have 3 links available, select the language and copy only the link and paste it into your Google Chrome browser or a browser of your choice.

2- Now you are on the home page of the Recruitment Center website. On this page you have all the information about the recruitment requirements and also the available vacancies as well as the salary amount.

3- After you have obtained all the information and are ready to register, click on the yellow link that says “Submit Application”.

4- Now on this registration page, fill in all the important fields that are marked with a “Red Asterisk”. In the field for attaching a copy of your Passport, the file must be an image (gif, jpg or pdf) and the file cannot exceed 15mb.

5- If you have any important certificates that justify your profession as a doctor, paramedic, nurse, or military police officer, add these certificates to the field on the second page.

6- Thank you for your request. We are receiving many requests. Please be patient, but all will be answered and responded to.

“The combat work of Colombian volunteers does not cause any reservations. They fight excellently side by side with Ukrainian fighters,” said in an interview with Army-TV. Senior Lieutenant of the Rubizh Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine Vladyslav “Vogon” Stotsky, who received the highest state award of Hero of Ukraine. According to him, before being on the front line, Ukrainian military and Colombian volunteers underwent coordination at the training ground. Thanks to this, complications in combat conditions were avoided.

The Ukrainian officer highly praised the initial level of physical training and motivation of Colombian fighters. The commander of "Fire" also expressed his admiration for the Colombian volunteer, a tactical medic, who in close combat not only quickly and professionally provided him with medical assistance when he was wounded, but also quickly loaded the magazines into the machine gun.

To avoid problems when traveling to Ukraine, you need an official invitation. The Ukrainian side sends an invitation to the volunteer after an interview with a recruiter. Thanks to the invitation, you will not have any problems in other countries on the way to Ukraine, if you use the routes recommended by us.

Those who come without an invitation may encounter a low problem when crossing the borders of other countries:

- you may not be allowed to enter the transit country due to the first document.

- you may be asked for a return border after landing at the airport.

Travel to Ukraine

In order to travel to Ukraine from any country in Latin America, you just need to go to the international airport closest to your place of residence, which offers international air connections in a European country. These can be: Spain (Madrid), France (Paris), Germany (Berlin or Frankfurt am Main). After arriving in one of the above countries, head to Poland (Warsaw). The cheapest way to do this is by land transport (bus or train).

When you arrive in Warsaw, go to the bus station at the address: Kijowska, 20 (indicate the address of the taxi driver or get there yourself). Upon arrival at the bus station, enter the building and go to the special counter "Volunteer Registration Point". Tell the people at the counter that you are a volunteer and are heading to Ukraine. They will fully guide you with the next steps and, if necessary, provide food, accommodation and fully purchase tickets to Ukraine.

The cost of a bus ticket to the Ukrainian city of Ternopil is 25-30 dollars. When crossing the Polish-Ukrainian border, you present your documents to the border guards and inform them that you are a volunteer of the Ukrainian army. If your documents are in order, i.e. you have an official invitation and there are no problems with staying in Europe (i.e. you have not exceeded the 90-day limit), you will cross the border without any problems and get to Ternopil. There should be no problem, after the route has already been developed and established. In case of any misunderstandings, inform your recruiter by phone.

Important points when traveling to Ukraine

You follow the connection with your recruiter throughout the trip and discuss all the questions you may have. Follow all the instructions of your recruiter, who will explain the route and answer your questions.

Be sure to send a copy of your passport and flowers from your recruiter via WhatsApp while you are at home to receive an official invitation. Welcome the invitation via WhatsApp and print it before the trip.

Be sure to wear CIVILIAN clothes so as not to attract attention. Ask your recruiter what you should bring with you depending on the season. In autumn and winter, this may be warm clothes.

Initial costs in Ukraine

Accommodation during registration – until you become a military serviceman – will cost from $5 to $20 per day. You must be able to pay for accommodation in a hostel for 8-20 days, until you draw up documents for signing the contract. Food during this time is free at the expense of our volunteers, public transport is also free, so the total costs of the population and the cost starts from $40 for the entire period.

After signing the contract, you will receive a military uniform, bulletproof vest, helmet and other equipment. You will also be provided with three meals a day and medical care. You will undergo training in a military training camp for at least 30 days and only after that will you go to the military unit.

A former Swedish MP Carolyn Nordengrip has joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine and become an instructor for recruits in the 47th Special Forces Group "Magura".

This is reported in the story of Radio Liberty.

At the age of 19, Carolyn Nordengrip completed her military service and served in the National Guard for several years, before choosing a political career.

Having been elected to the Swedish parliament, she worked in the defense committee. Her competence, among other things, included the deployment of Swedish forces in other countries and the export of weapons. Her parliamentary salary was about 7 thousand euros per month.

But the Russian aggression against Ukraine changed her life. She first arrived in Ukraine in March 2022 and stayed there for about six weeks. And the final decision to change her fate was made after a meeting with the Ukrainian ambassador.

“I remember so well the moment when I lowered my eyes, looked at my expensive suit and thought: “What am I doing here [in the Swedish parliament]? I’m a soldier!”, and literally a week later I was in Ukraine,” the woman recalls.

After that, she resigned from her parliamentary duties and became a military instructor – training infantry. She was pleasantly surprised by how easy and comfortable it is to work with Ukrainians, how polite they are and how gentle they are with animals, which also explains a lot.

“People of Ukraine, continue to defend freedom and peace,” Carolyn addressed the Ukrainians, and called on her compatriots to help them in every way.

Ukraine has become home to many foreign volunteers who responded to the call to help resist Russian aggression. One of them is JC - a volunteer from Brazil who has been serving in the ranks of Ukraine’s Defense Forces for two years.

In a detailed interview, JC talks about his journey - from the initial idea of joining Ukraine's resistance to taking part in combat on the front lines. He arrived in Ukraine in 2023, invited personally by a Ukrainian friend. With prior military experience, JC quickly adapted and found himself on the front line just days after arriving.

Today, the process for new volunteers is much more organized. JC explains in detail how the recruitment system works: registering through an online portal, arriving at the center in Ternopil, and undergoing training at the base of the Fourth International Legion of Ukraine’s Defense Forces. Even those without combat experience can receive the necessary training and everything required for service.

JC talks about the realities of modern warfare - drones, technology, and new types of weaponry. The Ukrainian front has become a kind of laboratory where daily adaptation and new skills are vital. According to him, the experience gained by volunteers here is unique and rarely accessible in peaceful countries.

JC also emphasizes the importance of logistics - rotation, food supply, and parcel delivery even to the zero line of the front. He notes that the high level of organization in the Ukrainian army impresses many foreigners.

The interview also addresses important practical issues: salary, bank transfers to Brazil, the process of signing a contract (which usually takes up to two weeks), the role of drones in combat, and how experience in Ukraine’s Defense Forces is invaluable for a future career.

To conclude, JC addresses all Brazilians and Latin Americans with a call to join the fight for freedom:

“Ukraine is far better prepared than it was a few years ago. You’ll get everything - training, equipment, a new profession. And most importantly - you’ll feel the genuine gratitude and support of the Ukrainian people.”
 

In cooperation with World Revolving

📩 Official invitation – mandatory requirement

To avoid difficulties on the way to Ukraine, every Brazilian volunteer must obtain an official invitation, which we prepare and send directly. By following the recommended routes, this document will allow smooth transit through countries on the way to Ukraine.

Without an invitation, the following problems may arise:

1. Entry denied by a transit country due to lack of documents.
2. Border control may request a return ticket.
3. Other complications entering the EU.

✈️ Recommended routes for volunteers from Brazil

Departure airports:

• • São Paulo (Guarulhos)
• • Rio de Janeiro (Galeão)

Best routes to Ukraine:

1. São Paulo – Madrid – Malaga – Warsaw (24h, $777)
2. São Paulo – Madrid – Warsaw (28h, $788)
3. São Paulo – Lisbon – Warsaw (17h, $817)

These routes are the most reliable and tested for Latin American volunteers.

🚌 What to do after arriving in Warsaw

1. Go to the bus station at Kijowska 20, Warsaw (by taxi or train).
2. Enter the station building and go to the ticket counter shown in the photo.
3. Tell the staff that you're a volunteer heading to Ukraine.

They will assist you with:

• • Food
• • Temporary accommodation (if needed)
• • Bus ticket to Ternopil ($25–$30)

Then you’ll travel to the border with Ukraine. If you have a valid invitation and haven’t exceeded the 90-day EU stay, you’ll be allowed through.
If any issue arises, contact your recruiter by phone.

Important recommendations

• • Stay in contact with your recruiter
• • Send your passport and ticket copies via WhatsApp before departure
• • Print your invitation before the trip
• • Don’t disclose your purpose of travel to strangers
• • Wear civilian clothes
• • Bring necessary items (especially warm clothes in fall/winter – ask the recruiter)

Expenses in Ukraine

• • Accommodation before signing the contract: $5–$20/day (for 8–20 days)
• • Food: free (thanks to volunteers)
• • Public transport: free

Approximate cost for the whole period: from $60

After signing the contract

• • You’ll receive: uniform, body armor, helmet, protection gear, and three meals a day
• • Undergo training in a military camp (at least 30 days)
• • Then – deployment to a combat unit

Follow the verified routes and instructions — this ensures safe arrival and full support at every stage!

📩 Official Invitation – Required

To avoid problems while traveling to Ukraine, every Colombian volunteer must obtain an official invitation. We handle and send it directly. Without it, you may be denied entry to transit countries or face issues at the airport.

✈️ Recommended Routes to Ukraine

The most efficient and proven routes:

1. Bogotá, Cali, or Medellín → Madrid or Frankfurt → Warsaw → Ternopil
2. Bogotá → Madrid → Warsaw → Ternopil – fastest route (4 days), ~$1000–$1200 + $25–$30 (bus)
3. Bogotá → Frankfurt → Warsaw → Ternopil – cheaper (~$900–$1000), but adds 1 extra day (5 days total)

Best departure airports:

• • José María Córdova International Airport (near Medellín)
• • Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport (near Cali)

🚌 Upon Arrival in Warsaw:

1.Go to the bus station: Kijowska 20, Warsaw
2.At the ticket window (as shown in the photo), say you're a volunteer traveling to Ukraine
3.They will help you with:

• • Food
• • Temporary accommodation (if needed)
• • Ticket to Ternopil ($25–$30)

4.Take the bus to the Polish-Ukrainian border
5.Show your official invitation and necessary documents
6.After verification – continue your journey to Ternopil

Important Travel Tips:

• • Stay in contact with your recruiter
• • Send passport and ticket copies via WhatsApp to receive your invitation
• • Print the invitation before traveling
• • Don’t tell others your destination or purpose (only officials)
• • Wear civilian clothes and stay low profile
• • Bring necessary seasonal items (check with your recruiter)

Expenses After Arrival in Ukraine:

• • Accommodation during pre-contract processing: $5–$20/day (up to 8–20 days)
• • Meals during this period – free
• • Public transportation – free

Estimated total cost: from $60

Why Not via Ecuador (Quito)?

• • Adds 4 extra days (total 8–9 days)
• • More expensive and requires more spending
• • Less safe and less tested route

Use proven routes – faster and safer!

After Signing the Contract:

• • You will receive: uniform, body armor, helmet, protective gear, and 3 meals/day
• • You undergo at least 30 days of training in a military camp
• • Then you're assigned to your unit

The number of foreign volunteers willing to join Ukraine’s Defense Forces continues to grow steadily. This was announced by Oleksii Bezhevets, an officer at the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, responsible for recruitment initiatives.

“We’re witnessing a significant increase in the number of foreign volunteers eager to join the Ukrainian army — even compared to the beginning of this year,” says Oleksii.

According to him, there are currently many open positions in various military units, meaning anyone can find their place — regardless of their citizenship.

Equal Rights and Opportunities

Foreigners who join the Armed Forces of Ukraine receive the same rights and responsibilities as Ukrainian soldiers. Ukrainian law guarantees equal treatment for all who defend the state.

“This means equal rights, equal opportunities, and the same chance to realize themselves in civilian life with all due state benefits,” the officer emphasizes.

Path to Officer Rank and Citizenship

According to Ukrainian legislation, foreign volunteers can become officers. The rules for them are the same as for Ukrainian citizens.

Those who have served in the Ukrainian army may also apply for Ukrainian citizenship. Although the procedure is complex, it is legally available and already used by many volunteers.

Continued Demand for Foreign Soldiers

Despite potential changes on the frontlines, the need for foreign volunteers will remain. Ukraine needs motivated people ready to defend freedom and independence.

“We see how effectively foreign service members fulfill their duties — as soldiers, as officers on the frontlines. Their contribution is crucial and necessary, regardless of how the war unfolds,” Bezhevets concludes.