A fake information video allegedly authored by the Ukrainska Pravda publication is being distributed in Russian Telegram channels. Against the background of footage from open sources, propagandists write about the readiness of the Verkhovna Rada to make a decision to increase payments to contract servicemen in the Armed Forces of Ukraine aged 19 to 21. The video fragment also recalled the Chairman of the Parliament Ruslan Stefanchuk, who allegedly compared young contract soldiers to Cossacks and noted that such “additional motivation” will allow for an “active and mobile contingent” in the army.

“The amount of remuneration will increase from 200 to 400 thousand hryvnia for men aged 19 to 21 who sign a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine”, the propagandists write.

In fact, this bill and Stefanchuk's statement do not exist, just like the video from Ukrainska Pravda, and this is reported in VoxCheck. The size of the one-time cash benefit upon signing the first contract depends on the rank. Age affects only the term of the contract service. After all, it is for conscripts aged 18 to 25 (or in the case of propaganda 19-21), that is, those who are not subject to mobilization in the absence of the status of “military liable”, the term of contract military service during martial law is only one year. Then the contract is terminated and not extended. Starting from 25 years, the mobilization age in Ukraine - the situation is different, namely, the contract is extended.

Previously, Russian propaganda spread messages about “socially unfair mobilization”; the intentions of the Ukrainian authorities to fight to the last Ukrainian and the lack of a future in the country. For Ukrainians, the topic of attracting people not subject to mandatory mobilization is debatable; just one mention of lowering the mobilization age provokes significant social discourse. But propagandists do not miss the opportunity to incite discord within the country and sow hatred towards the Ukrainian legislative power, in particular, by creating such info drives.