Special Contracts for IT Specialists in the Ukrainian Armed Forces: What Is the Ministry of Defense Discussing?

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine is considering introducing special contracts for programmers that guarantee they will serve in roles aligned with their expertise as digital officers. Find out what changes are being proposed and which initiatives are already underway

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The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense is developing measures aimed at alleviating fears of mobilization among technical specialists. One option is the introduction of special contracts for IT specialists, which would allow them to serve as digital officers with a guarantee of employment in their field. Oksana Ferchuk, Deputy Minister of Defense for Digitalization, spoke about this during the DOU Day 2026 conference. Oleg Berestov, Head of the Ministry of Defense’s Main Directorate for Information Technology, also participated in the discussion.

Read also: On what grounds do men have the right to travel abroad in 2026?

The main fear is being transferred from a technical position to the infantry

A key barrier to recruiting programmers into the Armed Forces of Ukraine is a very specific fear: landing a specialized digital position and then being transferred to a combat unit. According to Oksana Ferchuk, the ministry understands this problem and does not deny it.

“We understand that this fear isn’t going to just disappear, so we’re thinking about how to introduce separate contracts for IT specialists. So that we have a guarantee from the state that a person will remain in the position they were hired for,” the deputy minister noted.

Currently, the ministry maintains constant contact with all already appointed specialists, but the issue of legally enshrining these guarantees remains under consideration.

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How will the work of digital officers be evaluated?

Oleg Berestov, Head of the Main Directorate of Information Technologies at the Ministry of Defense, outlined the logic behind decisions regarding specialists within the structure. According to him, if a specialist brings real value, they will be provided with good working conditions. This is the best safeguard against unwanted transfers.

A digitalization effectiveness index is planned to be announced in the summer of 2026 for a systematic evaluation of IT personnel in uniform. If a person fails to fulfill their duties in a specific position, they will be sought for another digital role in line with their skills. Transfer directly to the infantry is not envisaged as a first step.

Over 2,000 open positions and 800 specialists already appointed

Over 2,000 positions for technical specialists have been opened as part of the initiative. No strict deadlines have been set for recruitment — the Ministry of Defense emphasizes the quality of candidates rather than the speed at which positions are filled.

Over 2,000 applications were received in the program’s first month. Of these, 800 specialists have already been appointed. However, one telling figure stands out: the share of candidates specifically from the civilian IT sector is only 16%. The ministry attributes this primarily to the community’s lack of awareness regarding the opportunities for targeted mobilization and the support mechanisms available to guide candidates through all the formalities.

The Ministry of Defense is attempting to collaborate with IT associations to promote the project, but has not yet found support there. According to ministry representatives, this is one of the factors holding back the growth of the proportion of civilian specialists among candidates.

The introduction of individual contracts with clear guarantees could be the tool that changes this situation.

But until a decision is made — the fear remains.

We remind you! The Territorial Recruitment Centers have stopped accepting applications for deferment from mobilization—now it is extended automatically or through the Administrative Service Centers. Read about which 22 categories are eligible for automatic extension, when the system may not work, and how to apply for a deferment online via Reserve+.

Photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

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