The Ukrainian opposition has criticized President Volodymyr Zelensky's initiative regarding the so-called "Vovina Thousand", funds that Ukrainians are planning to start paying starting December 1. Opponents call this move "voter bribery" and accuse the authorities of trying to gain support before the elections.
People's Deputy from Eurosolidarity Iryna Gerashchenko said that this is "outright mockery" against the backdrop of tax increases, meager salaries in the budget sector, and a lack of money for the army.
“The entire social sphere is maintained by our partners, and this will not last forever… We ask for grants, loans, and assistance all over the world, and these loans will be paid back by our children and grandchildren for decades. And at this time, another Z-thousand? Really?” writes Gerashchenko.
Her party member Volodymyr Ariev suggested that "the authorities' sociology is so bad that they have to resort to banal bribery of citizens, especially the part of the population that is eager for the stratum.".
"Step 1: take thousands of hryvnias from people's salaries by raising taxes, explaining it by the needs of the army. Step 2: give a thousand from the lordly shoulder of presidential mercy. Step 3: tell in a telethon about how Zelensky cares about the people," Ariev writes.
He also expects a spike in inflation due to additional money issuance for these purposes – according to Ariev, the authorities could print up to 30 billion hryvnias. He wonders why this money is not being directed to the needs of the army.
People's Deputy from the same party, Oleksiy Honcharenko, also criticizes the idea of "thousands".
"What do you think of the idea of giving away a thousand? Especially when military bonuses are not being increased, Hetmantsev is hysterically shouting how taxes should be collected from everyone because there is not enough money in the budget. Payments to mothers with children are 860 UAH. Payments to IDPs are 2,000 UAH. Pensions are meager. But we will give out a thousand to absolutely everyone. What kind of circus is this?", writes Honcharenko.
The editor-in-chief of Censor, Yuriy Butusov, stated that the authorities are “taking money from soldiers at the front in order to bribe voters” and called Zelensky’s idea “a crime against the defense of the state.”.
"If we assume that 30 or 40 million Ukrainians will receive a thousand, then it will take about 30-40 billion hryvnias... For 40 billion, the entire Ukrainian army can be fully equipped with all types of drones, all units, for six months. Why should the military continue to beg for armament and defense of Ukraine on the Internet, if there is money in the budget?", Butusov writes.
