Svyrydenko announced free hot lunches for all schoolchildren starting September 1
27 May 01:34
Starting September 1, 2026, students in grades 1–11 across Ukraine are to receive free hot meals. Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced this following a meeting with the heads of regional military administrations, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
Currently, all children in frontline communities, as well as students in grades 1–4 in all regions, already receive free hot meals. The next stage of the reform is intended to extend this program to middle and high school students.
Who will be covered by the program starting September 1
According to Yulia Svyrydenko, starting in the new school year, all students—from first through eleventh grade—will receive free hot lunches.
This means that the school meal program will cover not only elementary school students, as is currently the case, but also students in grades 5–11.
Who is already receiving free meals
Currently, free hot lunches are already provided to elementary school students—grades 1–4—in all regions of Ukraine. Children in frontline communities also receive free meals.
Expanding the program to all grades is set to be the next stage of school meal reform. The government expects that starting September 1, this support will be available to all students regardless of their region of residence or grade level.
1 billion UAH has been allocated for the modernization of school kitchens
The government has already allocated 1 billion hryvnia to implement the program. These funds will be used to modernize 73 school cafeterias in various regions of the country.
The renovation of school cafeterias is necessary so that schools can not only provide children with free lunches but also ensure that meals are high-quality, safe, and served regularly.
Modernization may include renovating facilities, updating kitchen equipment, improving food storage and meal preparation conditions, and creating a more modern system for organizing school meals.
School meal reform continues
The expansion of free meals to students in grades 1–11 is part of a broader school meal reform. Its goal is not simply to provide children with food, but to change the approach to organizing meals in educational institutions.
This involves higher-quality food, more modern kitchens, safe food preparation conditions, and healthier menus for students.
According to media reports, this is not the first time the government has announced its intention to provide free meals to all schoolchildren starting in September 2026. Authorities are currently preparing for the practical implementation of this decision at the local level.
What else was discussed at the meeting with regional military administrations
In addition to school meal reform, during the meeting with heads of regional military administrations, government officials also discussed issues of defense, energy, and preparations for the upcoming heating season.
These topics remain key for the regions, especially amid the war and ongoing risks to energy infrastructure.
