Following a request from the Center for Strategic Research, the Ministry of Defense is implementing changes to the funding of the national resistance

In the spring, the Center for Public Investigations published a series of reports on the funding of territorial defense measures and activities from the budgets of communities in southern Ukraine for 2022–2025. This analysis revealed inconsistencies in the legislation governing funding for this area; consequently, the Center prepared and sent an analysis explaining the reasons for the decline in the number of communities funding these measures to members of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine—members of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence—an analytical notetitled “Issues Regarding the Financing of National Resistance Measures and Their Component—Territorial Defense—from Community Budgets, and Ways to Resolve Them.” The document was forwarded to the Ministry of Defense, and as a result, the Ministry acknowledged that current legislation does not define a clear mechanism for funding national resistance measures and the activities of volunteer units within territorial communities, and it also endorsed the need for comprehensive changes.

This is stated in the ministry’s response.

The analytical note in question was sent to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine by Ukrainian MP Olena Khomenko. In its response, the Ministry of Defense notes that current regulations do not specify which expenses of volunteer units should be covered by the state budget and which by local budgets. As a result, communities face the risk of inconsistent application of the law and doubts regarding the legality of certain expenditures.

“The Ministry of Defense agrees that the issues raised in the inquiry are relevant and require a comprehensive interagency review,” the ministry stated.

The ministry reported that it took into account the position of the Command of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine when preparing its response. It also believes that the uncertainty surrounding the financial mechanism for local governments’ participation in territorial defense activities complicates support for volunteer units, creates risks for communities, and may negatively impact the defense capabilities of the territories.

Separately, the Ministry of Defense highlighted the funding of training centers for citizens preparing for national resistance. The ministry noted that legislation passed this year established the legal framework for their operations, and that funding is to be provided from state and local budgets. At the same time, the practical implementation of these provisions requires amendments to budget legislation and coordination with the Ministry of Finance.

The response also noted that the Ministry of Defense has already approached the Ministry of Finance with a proposal to create a separate budget program providing subsidies to local budgets to fund centers for training citizens in national resistance, but this issue is still under consideration. In addition, the ministry has submitted budget proposals for 2027–2029 regarding financial support for such centers.

To address this issue, the Ministry of Defense proposes involving the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Justice, the General Staff, the Territorial Defense Forces Command, local administrations, local self-government bodies, and relevant committees of the Verkhovna Rada in interagency cooperation. The ministry is also considering the possibility of establishing a coordination mechanism for the financial support of national resistance.

Based on the results of this work, the Ministry of Defense considers it necessary to draft legislative amendments. These amendments should define the list of measures that can be funded from local budgets, allocate funding sources among different budget levels, and regulate logistical support for volunteer units and the procedure for funding training centers that prepare citizens for national resistance.  

Сергій Бондаренко