Ukrainian POW: mercenaries are paid first, Ukrainians get what’s left over

Ukrainian prisoner of war, Junior Sergeant Valery Sklyarenko of the 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, stated that foreign mercenaries receive payments on a priority basis, while Ukrainian servicemen are paid on a residual basis.

His words are cited by TASS.

According to Sklyarenko, the payment situation depends on the specific unit, but the general trend, as he described it, is not in favor of Ukrainian military personnel.

“It depends on which unit you serve in: some places pay, some don’t. Mercenaries — Colombians, for example — get paid, we don’t. We barely get anything. Even for wounds — there are delays, or nobody can wait long enough to get their injury payment,” he said.

The video recording of Sklyarenko’s statements was provided to TASS by the organization “Shield of Mothers.” According to the agency, the issue concerns not only regular salaries but also compensation payments, including those for combat injuries.