Our sources in the President's Office report that the draft state budget for 2026 has not yet included about UAH 700 million, which is necessary for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to the interlocutors, the main items that have created the need for additional funds are the purchase of weapons and payments to the families of deceased servicemen - these are the expenditures that are significantly inflated and increase the forecast deficit.
Bankova allegedly made a temporary decision not to include part of these expenses in the project for now in order to avoid further widening of the budget gap in the current year. As sources explain, the issue is planned to be resolved during 2026 - by transferring funding, finding additional sources, or adjusting other expenditure items.
According to the interlocutors, this approach aims to politically and fiscally smooth out this year's budget figures, but creates risks for the timely financing of critical defense needs and social payments for the families of the deceased. Details on the sources of covering the missing UAH 700 million, the timing of the issue, and the responsible bodies were not specified.
