The Ukrainian opposition has criticized President Volodymyr Zelenskyi's initiative regarding the so-called "Vovina thousand", funds that Ukrainians plan to start paying from December 1. Opponents call this move "voter bribery" and accuse the authorities of trying to win support before the elections.
People's deputy from "Eurosolidarity" Iryna Gerashchenko said that this is "frank bullying" against the background of raising taxes, meager salaries in the budget sector and lack of money for the army.
"The entire social sphere is supported by our partners, and this will not last forever... We are asking for grants, loans and assistance all over the world, and these loans will be given by our children and grandchildren for decades. And at this time another Ze-thousand? "Really?" - writes Gerashchenko.
Her fellow party member Volodymyr Aryev suggested that "the government's sociology is so bad that it is necessary to resort to banal bribery of citizens, especially the part of the population willing to join the ranks."
"Step 1: take thousands of hryvnias from people's salaries by raising taxes, explaining the needs of the army. Step 2: give a thousand from the master's shoulder of the presidential grace. Step 3: talk in a telethon about how Zelensky cares for the people," Ariev writes.
He also expects a jump in inflation due to the additional emission of money for these purposes - according to Aryev, the authorities can print up to 30 billion hryvnias. He wonders why this money is not directed to the needs of the army.
People's deputy from the same party Oleksiy Honcharenko also criticizes the idea of "thousands".
"How do you like the idea of giving away a thousand? Especially when the military allowances are not increased, Hetmantsev shouts in hysterics that it is necessary to collect taxes from everyone, because there is not enough money in the budget. Payments to mothers with children UAH 860. Payments of IDPs 2000 hryvnias. Pensions are meager. But we will give out a thousand to absolutely everyone. What kind of circus is this?" - writes Goncharenko.
Yuriy Butusov, chief editor of Censor, said that the government "takes money from soldiers at the front in order to bribe voters" and called Zelenskyi's idea "a crime against the defense of the state."
"If we assume that 30 or 40 million Ukrainians will receive 1,000, then it will take about 30-40 billion hryvnias... For 40 billion, the entire Ukrainian army can be fully provided with all types of drones and all units for six months. Why should the military continue to beg for armaments and defense of Ukraine on the Internet, if there is money in the budget?" - writes Butusov.
