Lenten dinner on Christmas Eve rose by 11% over the year – UCAB
18 December 14:08
On the eve of the Christmas holidays, food prices are showing mixed trends: due to the record reduction in the price of vegetables, the cost of some traditional dishes has decreased, but the total Christmas table bill has increased due to the rise in prices of fruits, fish and groceries. The total cost of a set of 12 lean dishes in December 2025 is UAH 913.57, which is 11% more than last year, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports, citing the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club Association.
This winter season was characterized by “vegetable deflation”. Thanks to a good harvest, prices for “borscht set” vegetables fell significantly: cabbage fell by 73%, carrots by 63%, onions by 58%, potatoes by 54%, and beets by 51%. This allowed for significant savings on the preparation of dishes such as dumplings with cabbage (their cost decreased by 47%), potatoes with garlic (-40%), and vinaigrette (-18%). Even lean borscht will cost 18% less this year than last year.
However, despite the cheap vegetables, the main symbols of the Christmas table – kutia and uzvar – have significantly increased in price. The kutia index increased by 37%. This is due to the rise in price of all its components: nuts went up by 60%, honey by 40%, and poppy seeds and raisins added more than 30%. The leaders in terms of price growth were the ingredients for jam: prunes went up by 168%, dried pears by 140%, and apples by 110%, which led to a 150% increase in the price of the drink.
Fish dishes are also pulling the holiday budget up. The cost of herring increased by 24%, and the cost of fish (hake) for baking by 25%. Additionally, the final cost of dishes is influenced by sunflower oil, which is a basic element of the Lenten table and has risen in price by 22% over the year.
As for meat dishes (for those who do not fast or are already preparing for the New Year), their preparation is more expensive than last year. Baked pork neck meat will cost 7% more (330 UAH/kg). Lard is outpacing the growth rate of meat prices – over the year, the product has added 16% in price and costs 272 UAH/kg. The cost of meat borscht increased by 27% to UAH 196, with pork ribs accounting for more than 60% of the price (UAH 119.5 per 500 g). Chicken is strengthening in price due to rising feed costs, while pork prices are being stabilized by imports.
Cheese slices will be one of the most expensive items on the New Year’s table at 700 UAH/kg, which is 40% more than last year. Despite the general downward trend in wholesale prices for dairy raw materials, producers are keeping cheese and butter prices high due to expensive energy costs. The price of eggs, which are needed for olivier, increased by 10% compared to the same period last year and reached UAH 81.6 per dozen.
