No money to buy toothpaste: Soldiers discharged after injury receive less than 5 euros in salary

After being wounded and removed from active duty, soldiers receive around 200 hryvnias (approximately 4.73 euros) in salary.

A video has surfaced online in which one of these soldiers, whose face is not shown, says he “can’t even afford toothpaste”.

The video’s author explains that the soldier fought near Bakhmut, got wounded, was brought to the Lviv military hospital, underwent surgery, was discharged, and was assigned a salary of 500 hryvnias (around 11.83 euros). The man in the video notes that he lives off his wife and people’s assistance.

“A soldier from the 80th whom I met in Konstantinovka, Donetsk region, is now operated on and is in a hospital near Lviv. He was poorly operated on, he can’t walk, his leg constantly hurts. I brought him crutches so he could start walking. He was removed from duty and they pay him 500 hryvnias per month,” the man stated.

Another soldier says he receives 180-260 hryvnias (approximately 4.26-6.15 euros). He also lives off his wife and people’s assistance, and he has a small child.

A soldier speaking on the phone with another wounded fighter also confirms that he was removed from duty and receives 200 hryvnias (about 4.73 euros).