Almost 25 million hryvnias are planned to be spent on New Year’s gifts for children in the frontline Kharkiv region

In the Kharkiv region, in the front-line zone, children live in difficult conditions. Military operations left a deep mark on their lives: constant stress, a sense of danger, loss of relatives or loved ones. In these realities, even the smallest manifestation of attention and support is of great importance. That is why local communities decided to take care of the New Year’s mood for children by allocating funds for sweet gifts. However, the question arises: are the amounts spent justified? Is such a step a sign of genuine concern or an irrational use of resources?

Budget for gifts: figures and scales

According to the data obtained from the portal ProZorro as of November 1, communities of the Kharkiv region plan to spend almost 25 million hryvnias (24 million 845 thousand 783 hryvnias) on the purchase of 143 820 New Year’s gifts. At the same time, the average cost of one set is 172.76 hryvnias. And although this is not yet the final amount, because tenders continue to be placed, the scale of expenses is already causing lively discussions.

How the funds are distributed

Kharkiv district:

• 106,520 gifts will cost in 16,789,913 hryvnias.
  • Kharkiv: 90,000 gifts — 13,174,200 UAH.
  • Pisochyn: 4,500 sets — UAH 883,000.
  • New Aquarius: 4,000 gifts — 1,120,000 UAH.
  • Other communities of the district, including Lubotyn and Solonytsivka, will spend smaller amounts, but in general, the contributions of individual settlements amount to hundreds of thousands of hryvnias.

Berestyn district:

• 15,367 gifts will cost in 3,860,351 hryvnias.
  • Berestyn: 7,458 sets — UAH 1,864,500.
  • Natalina: 2,476 gifts — UAH 622,095.
  • Other communities in the district allocate smaller amounts, but the trend remains constant.

Loziv district:

• 11,712 gifts — 1,914,860 hryvnias.
  • Lozova: 8,300 gifts — UAH 1,060,000.
  • Twins: 1,170 pieces — UAH 491,400.

Other districts of Kharkiv Oblast:

• Bogodukhiv district: 4,570 gifts — 1,060,760 UAH.
• Chuguyiv district: 3,963 gifts — UAH 684,350.
• Izyum district: 928 gifts — UAH 296,909.
• Kupyan district: 760 gifts — UAH 238,640.

Discussions around tenders

Expenditures of this scale cause controversy among residents of the region and experts. On the one hand, a sweet gift is not only goodies, but also a symbol of children’s joy, attention and care. In the frontline zone, where children rarely feel carefree, such gestures are especially important. On the other hand, the sums seem excessive, and communities ask whether these funds could be used for more urgent needs: rebuilding schools, arranging shelters, or buying warm things.

Sweet New Year’s gifts are a gesture that symbolizes care for the youngest residents of Kharkiv Oblast during the war. But so that this gesture does not appear wasteful, communities should carefully weigh their priorities. After all, real care is not only about gifts, but also about creating conditions in which children will feel protected and happy.