Forced charity: Nina Yuzhanina criticized Ukrposhta’s fundraising for the Armed Forces of Ukraine through the Kyiv School of Economics Foundation

Decisions made by the Ukrainian government and state-owned companies are increasingly causing an active negative reaction from society. In times of war, any initiative involving funding or additional obligations to citizens is under special scrutiny. The innovation introduced by the state company “Ukrposhta” is no exception. Her initiative to collect 1 hryvnia from each parcel for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine through the “Kyiv School of Economics” fund caused a wide response, which flared up with new force after the comments of People’s Deputy Nina Yuzhanina.

Yuzhanina, as a member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy, is open criticized this step She notes that the mandatory collection of charitable contributions not only violates the principle of voluntariness, but also calls into question the transparency of the use of collected funds. Her observations are based on several important aspects that concern both the organization of the collection and its legal and ethical implications.

According to Yuzhanina, the idea of ​​collecting an additional hryvnia from each parcel may seem noble, but the method of its implementation raises serious questions. She notes that this fee is entered into the software of “Ukrposhta” in such a way that it is impossible to refuse it. At the same time, senders automatically pay an additional hryvnia as a charitable contribution to the “Kyiv School of Economics” fund, which directs funds to the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

“The founder of this charity fund is the Corporation “Kyiv School of Economics” of Tymofiy Serhiyovych Mylovanov, who at the same time is the Chairman of the board of this charitable fund. The same Mylovanov Tymofiy is the Minister of Economy of the first Zelensky government. The same Mylovanov Tymofiy is the acting freelance adviser to the head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak.

And this scheme will bring Mylovanov’s charitable fund at least 50 million hryvnias per year (the number of parcels received by Ukrposhta in 2023.

And the actions of the General Director of “Ukrposhta” should be evaluated by the relevant law enforcement agencies for their legality, who, by the way, was recently appointed as the Government Commissioner for Reforming Customs Authorities. – said Nina Yuzhanina.

She emphasizes that this approach violates the principle of voluntariness, which is the basis of charity. She questions the transparency of the use of the collected funds, noting that the state-owned company, in fact, acts as an intermediary in the forced collection of charitable contributions. According to Yuzhanina, this creates a dangerous precedent, when state structures can automatically impose certain obligations on citizens.

Photo: t.me/ninayuzhanina

At the same time, the People’s Deputy points out that even if the final result looks significant, the very approach to fundraising is illegal. She emphasizes that such actions undermine trust in state institutions, because citizens should have the right to decide for themselves whether to support this or that charitable initiative.

Yuzhanina also draws attention to how this decision affects society. In the current environment, many citizens already spend a significant part of their income on supporting the army, volunteer initiatives and humanitarian aid. Forcible collection of even such a small amount as 1 hryvnia can be perceived as another burden, especially for those who use the services of “Ukrposhta” regularly. In addition, it can create tension among citizens who expect transparent and understandable decisions from the state.

According to Yuzhanina, such initiatives can become a dangerous precedent. If the state begins to automatically collect funds for certain purposes through its structures, this may lead to further expansion of such practices. In the future, this threatens the emergence of new “mandatory” fees, which will not be agreed with the public, but will fall on the shoulders of every Ukrainian.

The initiative of “Ukrposhta” on the compulsory collection of charitable contributions raises not only the question of expediency, but also affects the fundamental principles of interaction between the state and citizens. According to Nina Yuzhanina, such decisions should be reviewed. Voluntary support of the army is an important part of the Ukrainian resistance, but its transformation into coercion should cause concern. A society that trusts the state should be able to support charity at its own discretion, not under compulsion.