Two trillion for defense: The Cabinet of Ministers approved the state budget for 2026

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved the draft State Budget for 2026 and submitted it to the Parliament for consideration.

This was announced by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.

The budget is expected to be deficit - expenditures are UAH 4.8 trillion, while revenues are expected to reach UAH 2.8 trillion. The need for external financing will amount to 2 trillion 79 billion hryvnias. The government plans to spend 2.8 trillion on defense, including at least 44.3 billion hryvnias for the production of Ukrainian ammunition, missiles, missile defense, aircraft and armored vehicles.

UAH 265.4 billion is planned for education. In particular, in 2026, teachers will receive a 50% salary increase. Also, starting October 1, all 4.4 million schoolchildren will receive free meals. Scholarships for students will be doubled.

UAH 258 billion will be spent on healthcare. Salaries of primary and emergency care doctors will increase to 35 thousand hryvnias. Free medicines for cardiovascular, diabetes, and other chronic diseases will be additionally funded.

UAH 41.5 billion will be spent on business support. In particular, the program includes affordable loans of 5-7-9%, provision of housing for Ukrainians under the eHouse program, industrial parks and other initiatives to provide grants and support to Ukrainian manufacturers; continued support for the Brave1 program for defense technology developers. It is also planned to spend UAH 200 million on state subsidies to agricultural producers as compensation for up to half of the costs of building and reconstructing irrigation systems.

And UAH 15.8 billion for culture, which includes support for the creation of content to promote national identity and strengthen national unity.

Кирило Бойко