The Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's parliament) adopted on Monday an amendment to the state budget for 2025, increasing defense spending by an additional $7.7 billion (about 324.7 billion hryvnias). The bill was supported by 297 deputies, Ukrainian media reported, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
Ukraine, which continues to defend itself against Russian invasion, is directing a significant part of its budget to military purposes, relying largely on foreign funding and support from international partners, the agency noted.
The largest share of the new funds will be allocated to the Armed Forces of Ukraine – 210.9 billion hryvnia (approximately 5 billion euros). 99.1 billion hryvnia (2.3 billion euros) are allocated for the production and purchase of weapons and ammunition, and for the National Guard – 8.1 billion hryvnia (190 million euros), reports the Ukrainform agency.
An additional 4.3 billion hryvnia will also be allocated for the purchase of drones through the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection, 1.3 billion for the Security Service of Ukraine, 918 million for the State Special Transport Service, 83 million euros for the State Border Service, 28.8 million euros for the Military Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense, and 8 million euros for the Foreign Intelligence Service.
The financing will be provided through international assistance in the amount of 294.3 billion hryvnia, including 6 billion hryvnia in grants under the European Recovery Instrument, as well as through cuts in non-military spending of 10.4 billion hryvnia and additional tax revenues of 20 billion hryvnia due to increased military salaries in November and December.