On August 20, the Verkhovna Rada for the second time in the last month passed a decision to increase the State Budget for 2025. Bill No. 13439-3 was supported by 229 deputies, reported Head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Budget Issues, Roksolana Pidlas.
On July 31, the parliament already voted to increase spending by UAH 412 billion to finance defense needs. Now the deputies focused on non-military spending.
According to Pidlasa, the main items of additional expenses include:
- UAH 25.5 billion to replenish the reserve fund of the state budget for unforeseen military and humanitarian expenses (of which UAH 8 billion can be directed to support Ukrzaliznytsia);
- UAH 4.3 billion for the Ministry of Digital Affairs for the purchase of special equipment, drones, equipment for combat testing, as well as for grants in the field of defense tech;
- UAH 4.6 billion to provide food for elementary school students across the country and students in grades 5–11 in the frontline regions;
- UAH 3.2 billion for the purchase of drugs for the treatment of cancer patients, patients with hepatitis, rare orphan diseases and hemophilia;
- UAH 1.5 billion as a subvention to local budgets for the development of a network of military lyceums engaged in patriotic education of children;
- UAH 1.2 billion to support war veterans and their families, including aid payments and compensation for car insurance.
By a separate decision, the deputies allocated UAH 1 billion for the construction of new housing or the reconstruction of premises for the residence of internally displaced persons.
“These additional expenses are balanced by the reduction of other non-military expenses by UAH 36.7 billion (of which UAH 33.6 billion is a reduction in public debt service), as well as the redirection of part of the bank profit tax from the budget of the city of Kyiv to the general fund of the state budget – UAH 8 billion.” – explained Podlasa.
The day before, the Kyiv City State Administration stated that such a decision creates a risk for the planned recapitalization of the Kyiv Municipal Building.
