Pensions, taxes, defense: Verkhovna Rada adopts budget for 2026

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has (not) passed the draft law "On the State Budget for 2026" in the second reading and in general.

According to the press service of the Verkhovna Rada, 257 MPs voted in favor of the budget.

In October, MPs already approved the draft budget in the first reading, which provides for an increase in the minimum wage from UAH 8,000 to UAH 8,600. Starting January 1, it is proposed to increase the subsistence minimum, in particular for citizens who have lost their ability to work (minimum pension):

• UAH 3.2 thousand in total
• for able-bodied persons - UAH 3.3 thousand;
• for persons who have lost their ability to work - UAH 2.6 thousand;
• for children under the age of 6 - UAH 2.8 thousand;
• for children aged 6 to 18 years - UAH 3.5 thousand;
• for able-bodied persons, which is used to determine the basic salary of a judge, the salary of a district prosecutor, the salaries of employees of other state bodies whose remuneration is regulated by special laws, other employees of state bodies, as well as employees of tax and customs authorities - at the level established for the relevant state body as of December 31, 2025 (i.e. UAH 1.6 thousand);
• for persons who have lost their ability to work, which is used to determine the amount of additional payment for living in areas of radioactive contamination by court decisions - UAH 1.6 thousand).

The draft budget envisages revenues of UAH 2.9 trillion and expenditures of UAH 4.7 trillion.

The budget deficit is 2.4 trillion or 18.4% of GDP. Defense spending in 2026 was projected at UAH 2.8 trillion.

Кирило Бойко