Defense, salaries, pensions: Zelensky signed the budget-2025

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed the law on the state budget for 2025.

According to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, the priority of the budget is to protect our country.

"Financing of the Security and Defense Forces, purchase and production of weapons, drones and equipment. We allocate UAH 2.23 trillion for this. We will allocate UAH 420.9 billion for social protection, UAH 217 billion for healthcare, and UAH 199 billion for education," he wrote.

The Prime Minister reminded that total expenditures for the next year are planned at UAH 3.6 trillion, while revenues are planned at UAH 2.05 trillion.

It should be noted that the budget for 2025 envisages a deficit of UAH 1.6 trillion (with revenues of UAH 2.3 trillion and expenditures of UAH 3.9 trillion). The deficit will be covered by international aid.

The dollar is expected to rise to 45.0 hryvnia in 2025. Real GDP growth is projected at 2.7% (slower than in the current and previous years). Inflation will accelerate to 9.5% due to rising raw material prices, higher wages, and the gradual devaluation of the hryvnia.

There will be no increase in the minimum wage. Starting from January 1, 2025, it will be the same UAH 8 thousand per month. The average salary is expected to increase to UAH 24,389. Also, by July 1, 2025, the Cabinet of Ministers must submit a draft law to establish unified approaches to the recalculation of pensions that were granted under "special" laws." It should be noted that pensions will be indexed starting March 1, 2025.

UAH 42.3 billion has been allocated for subsidies and privileges for housing and communal services, purchase of solid and liquid heating fuel and liquefied gas. The number of subsidy recipients will be reduced by 400,000.

Олеся Ланцман