First Deputy Chair of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy, Yaroslav Zhelezniak, said in an interview with Radio NV that they propose finding at least 200 billion UAH to increase the pay of servicemen.
Total amount of proposals and the share for salaries
According to Zhelezniak, the proposals envisage finding a total of 250−274 billion UAH, part of which would be allocated to support businesses. The MP clarified that of the funds found at least 200 billion UAH should go specifically to military salaries.
He also said that his initial proposal envisaged an increase of at least 20%, but that provision did not make it into the committee’s final decision text. The Budget Committee supported an amendment obliging the government to review servicemen’s monetary compensation.
Sources of funding: three avenues
The first source is planned to be a reallocation of state budget expenditures — this could provide about 70−80 billion UAH. Specific proposals mentioned include reductions in funding for certain areas, notably the telemarathon, strategic communications and road construction.
The second source is the reduction of the shadow economy, from which about 64.5 billion UAH is expected. The third is mobilisation through domestic public debt: the MP proposes issuing additional military bonds to raise a further 100 billion UAH.
Quotes and next steps on the budget
“We submitted a number of amendments, totalling 274 billion UAH, which, briefly, envisage three avenues for finding funds,” Zhelezniak said. He also noted: “I am convinced they will be in demand if we say that they are going specifically to military salaries,” referring to military bonds.
According to the MP, the government must submit the relevant changes to the second reading of the draft state budget. Zhelezniak emphasised: “We are allocating at least 200 billion UAH to military salaries.”
