Of the additional funds, the bulk (UAH310 billion) will be administered by the Defense Ministry. According to Svyrydenko, UAH202 billion ($4.9 billion) is allocated to military personnel pay and UAH100 billion ($2.4 billion) for arms procurement. The new equipment purchases will focus on UAVs of all types, including fiber-optic FPV models, interceptor drones, and deep-strike drones.
Svyrydenko said the decision reflects the “fluid front-line dynamics and ever-changing conditions of combat.” She warned that Russia is intensifying its attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in the rear and adapting its tactics at the front.
“We must remain flexible and quickly adjust our spending to provide the Armed Forces with all the means and resources they need to counter the enemy,” she said.
The main source of the additional funding is EUR6 billion ($7 billion) from the European Union under the Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration for Ukraine (ERA) initiative. The government will also draw on nearly UAH30 billion ($727 million) in extra revenue, debt-service savings, and cuts to lower-priority expenditures.
The budget amendments need to be ratified by the Ukrainian parliament (Verkhovna Rada).
“Now the next step is up to the members of parliament,” she said.
“We hope for swift approval of the budget amendments in the Verkhovna Rada to ensure continued support for Ukraine’s defense forces.”