Prepare for mobilization: With what government provides recruits and what you should buy for yourself
According to rough estimates, an additional 400-500 thousand people liable for military service need to be mobilized into the ranks of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. They will replenish depleted units and replace more than 300,000 soldiers who have been on the battlefield for two years.
To speed up this process, the Verkhovna Rada has been considering a package of draft laws aimed at regulating military registration and increasing penalties for evading mobilization for three months now. However, this gives citizens time to better prepare for conscription into the Armed Forces, try to find a place of service on their own, and buy additional equipment.
BusinessCensor decided to find out what the state can provide a mobilized soldier with, what he or she should buy on his or her own and how much it will cost.
To prepare this article, BC (BusinessCensor) talked to experienced soldiers from several motorized infantry and rifle units. However, it is worth noting that the experience and preferences of each soldier are individual, especially when it comes to the comfort of different types of equipment. Some are quite satisfied with the items they receive from the state, while others spare no expense to buy more comfortable and high-quality items. In addition, the equipment provided to different units may differ.
To illustrate the estimated cost of the equipment, we used data from the most popular Ukrainian online stores, excluding the most expensive and cheapest items.
What kind of material supply can a serviceman receive from the state?
The norms for the provision of military uniforms and accessories to servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the State Special Transport Service are established by Order of the Ministry of Defense No. 232 of April 29, 2016.
According to the explanations provided by the Command of the Logistics Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to the ArmyInform news agency of the Ministry of Defense, servicemen of all categories are provided with clothing under martial law in accordance with standard No. 1 (Combat Uniform). It provides for the provision of military personnel with 46 items of clothing: from hats to winter jackets.
As a rule, a mobilized soldier will receive some of the items on this list at the training center, and another part upon arrival at the unit after training. It is unlikely to get all 46 items from the set provided for in norm No. 1, but most military units do not complain about significant problems with providing soldiers with the most necessary things.
In addition, servicemen are also provided with items in accordance with the " Special Combat Kit" (SCK) standard. This list includes personal protective equipment and military equipment (e.g., goggles, camouflage suits, tactical knee pads, ballistic headphones, cartridge pouches, flashlights, etc.)
Not everything on this list can be issued. And the state has only just begun to purchase some items centrally. For example, the technical specification for the purchase of "special headphones" was approved by the Ministry of Defense only in August 2023, and the first few batches were purchased in January 2024.
However, in general, the Armed Forces will provide a recruit with a "starter kit" of the necessary equipment of acceptable quality, the military says. Undoubtedly, it can be improved and perfected, depending on one's own wishes and needs. However, it is possible to better understand these needs when you have already taken your place in the army and tested the kit received from the state personally.
Clothing and footwear in the Armed Forces of Ukraine
The soldiers have no critical complaints about the quality of the uniforms and footwear provided to the Armed Forces. However, some items are advised to be replaced with more comfortable ones. In any case, a recruit should have a kit for minor repairs of clothing and equipment (several spools of strong thread, thick and fine needles, several zipper sliders on the uniform, a hook and loop fastener and several buttons).
Uniform. At the stage of the training center, it is better to buy an additional set of field uniforms - a tunic and pants - to be able to change clothes. Preferably, regulation "pixel". You should also buy a belt separately. Later, you should buy pants and a combat shirt with knee/elbow pads.
Lightweight and high-quality American uniforms of the ECWCS system, made using membrane fabric, are popular among experienced Ukrainian military personnel. Domestic manufacturers are also trying to meet this demand by expanding and improving their product range. However, in any case, items made of higher quality materials are more expensive.
Socks and underwear. While socks for the Armed Forces have gained popularity even among civilians due to their quality, in addition to the underwear provided, it is worth buying hiking that will better ensure moisture and sweat removal. The same applies to T-shirts and demi-season underwear.
Shoes. As a rule, summer, demi-season and winter boots are of good quality, according to the military. However, it is worth buying demi-season hiking boots to replace them. The price of popular models of high-quality footwear with a waterproof membrane can reach 10,000 hryvnias, but cheaper options can be found from domestic manufacturers. You also need to have rubber boots and slippers. Usually, the army provides them. If not, you will have to buy them.
Hats and caps. The state provides a patrol cap, a panama hat, a winter hat, as well as summer and winter buffs. According to the soldiers, they perform their function well enough, but it is possible to buy lightweight panama hat and an additional warm hat for the winter.
Gloves. Gloves should be issued in demi-season, winter and tactical. However, you should get used to wearing them all the time to protect your hands, so it is better to buy high-quality and comfortable tactical gloves - summer and winter.
Combat shirt. A hybrid of thermal underwear and a tunic designed to be worn under body armor. In addition to the one issued by the Armed Forces, you should buy a spare one made of fabric that will better ensure moisture and sweat removal.
Raincoats and ponchos. A raincoat made of waterproof fabric should be provided. However, it is useful to buy a tactical poncho that can protect you from rain and wind, as well as be used as an improvised tent, sleeping bag or hammock.
- Additional set of uniforms - 2000-7000 UAH
- Training underwear and T-shirt - 500-1200 UAH
- Thermal underwear - 700-1200 UAH
- Tactical shoes - 2500-10000 UAH
- Slippers or flip flops - 200-300 UAH
- Camouflage panama hat - 300-1000 UAH
- Tactical gloves - 500-1200 UAH
- Combat shirt - 1000-4600 UAH
- Poncho - 900-1000 UAH
Equipment
A full set of military equipment is rarely available. However, most of the necessary or better items can be purchased after transferring from the training center to the unit.
A sleeping mat should be issued by the army if the recruit will be in the field. It is better to buy an isothermal mat made of thick foam of a protective color and a seat of the same color. Inflatable mats are best left for hiking trips - they require extra time and are easily punctured.
A sleeping bag should also be provided. However, the quality of sleep in the field is extremely important, so you can buy an improved sleeping bag yourself. It should be spacious enough to be in winter clothing and body armor if necessary.
It is best to choose a reliable demi-season sleeping bag that can be used both in summer and winter if you sleep in it with your clothes on. NATO army sleeping bags are popular among military personnel, and the American modular sleeping system MSS (Modular Sleep System) is considered to be the technological pinnacle in this area, as it can be used regardless of the season and in any weather. Of course, such a pleasure is expensive - from 30,000 hryvnias.
Tactical backpack is usually provided by the state. However, you can also choose a custom-made one - first of all, it should be comfortable and reliable. It should be supplemented with a backpack hydrator, which allows you to carry larger volumes of water more conveniently than a flask.
Tactical first aid kit will be provided by the army. However, if possible, you can buy a better quality one on your own. It is essential to have your own "household" first aid kit with a supply of the medicines you need.
You can buy tactical glasses, headphones, cartridge-pouches and some other equipment, depending on your preferences and what the unit will provide.
Among the equipment you should provide yourself with is a travel towel, a set of camping utensils, a tactical flashlight, a power bank, a watch, a nylon rope (paracord), a lockable knife and a multi-tool. You will most likely also need a folding shovel. As with all military equipment, the most important characteristics for these items are reliability and convenience.
- Sleeping mat (Karrimat) - 650-1300 UAH
- Mattress for sitting - 100-800 UAH
- Sleeping bag - 2 300-30 000 UAH
- Tactical backpack - 1000-4000 UAH
- Bag for things - 1700-4000 UAH
- Hydrator for a backpack - 300-450 UAH
- First aid kit - 2500-10000 UAH
- Tactical glasses, headphones - 1600-5000 UAH
- Travel towel - 250-550 UAH
- Folding spoon and fork - 100-300 UAH
- Iron mug - 200-300 UAH
- A set of dishes - 500-1000 UAH
- Flashlight - 750-4000 UAH
- Power bank (20,000-30,000 mAh) - 700-2000 UAH
- Watch - 700-1500 UAH
- Paracord / rope (15-30 m) - 200-500 UAH
- Lockable knife - 300-2500 UAH
- Multitool - 400-4000 hryvnias
- Folding shovel - 600-3000 UAH
Protection
Basic personal protective equipment is provided to military personnel on a mandatory basis. They can either be supplemented with additional protection or purchase lightweight armor plates or a helmet at their own expense. However, such equipment is not cheap.
Bullet-proof body armour. Since the beginning of the war in 2014, the Temp-3000 company has been the monopoly supplier of bulletproof vests for the Ministry of Defense. Thus, the main bulletproof vest is the universal Corsair M3, which is usually equipped with removable armor plates to protect against fragments and steel plates of the 4th class of protection according to the State Standard of Ukraine. Recently, however, the Ministry of Defense has begun purchasing improved versions of bulletproof vests with a higher level of protection.
The disadvantage of this vest configuration is its considerable weight, which reaches 11-12 kg. It can be reduced by replacing the armor plates with ceramic ones.
In general, due to the modular design, most of the protection elements (plate carrier, armor plates, additional anti-shrapnel protection) can be replaced or supplemented. However, such a decision, as well as the purchase of additional protection, should be made after the recruit has tested the issued body armor for a certain period of time and has been assigned to a military position.
A helmet is also provided on a mandatory basis. Experienced soldiers are advised to buy only the protection of the back of the head. However, you can buy a helmet made of lighter materials on your own. Such helmets of the standard NIJ-III protection class cost from 12 thousand hryvnias, but have special mounts on the forehead and sides for night vision devices, cameras, flashlights or additional protection.
- Plate carrier - 5000 - 10 000 UAH
- Ceramic plates of NIJ-IV class (set) - 13,000-25,000 UAH
- Bullet-proof body armour - 20 000-50 000 UAH
- NIJ-III class helmet - 12,000-19,000 UAH
- Protection of the back of the head - 650-1600 UAH
- Additional ballistic protection (depending on the type) - UAH 3,000-8,000
