The Ministry of Finance reports on state budget expenditures, and the government explains why spending has increased
16 May 17:35
In January-April 2025, the total cash expenditures of the general fund of the state budget amounted to UAH 1.2 trillion, which is UAH 239.6 billion or 25.3% more than in the same period last year. In particular, UAH 329.9 billion was spent in April. This was reported by the Ministry of Finance with reference to the data of the State Treasury Service of Ukraine, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
In the structure of expenditures, the largest amount – UAH 475.2 billion – was spent on wages and salaries (including UAH 125.7 billion in April), or 40.1% of the total expenditures spent in January-April 2025 (compared to the same period last year, it increased by UAH 86.7 billion, or 22.3%).
In particular, UAH 365.2 billion was spent on the salaries of military personnel (UAH 96.6 billion in April).
As for other expenditures on the Armed Forces, UAH 149.2 billion was spent on purchasing goods to meet the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and UAH 83.9 billion was spent on supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations and law enforcement agencies.
Why did the overall spending increase?
The fact that the budget has had to spend significantly more money since the beginning of the year did not go unnoticed by MPs during the “Hour of Questions to the Government”.
According to MP Dmytro Razumkov, “we are now experiencing déjà vu – the history of 2024 is repeating itself in full: the budget deficit, which has already been declared and actually amounts to 200-250 – according to some estimates, up to 500 – according to other estimates, billions of hryvnias for payments to our defenders.”
He asked what resources the government would use to fill the gaps that it had not taken into account
Answering the MP, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal reminded that last year in the first quarter there were significant delays in the supply of weapons from partners, and the government was forced to reallocate funds in terms of timing to purchase weapons on time.
“This year, unfortunately, the situation has repeated itself. Starting from the first quarter, there was a reduction in assistance from some partners, so we were forced to take on additional purchases of weapons and especially ammunition for our Armed Forces. This, of course, entailed additional costs. At the moment, they are all covered, and the Ministry of Defense and the State Procurement Agency are carrying out all the necessary purchases and supplies to the front line,” noted Denys Shmyhal.
According to him, if funds are needed in the second half of the year, given that the needs during the war may change depending on the situation on the battlefield and the situation with Ukraine’s partners, the government will appeal to the parliament and justify all sources to fill the budget.
What else were budget funds spent on besides salaries?
According to the Ministry of Finance, in January-April, the following funds were allocated from the budget:
– uAH 160.4 billion – to pay for the use of goods and services (in April – UAH 49.1 billion) or 13.5% of total expenditures.
– uAH 212.9 billion was allocated for social security (payment of pensions, benefits, scholarships) (UAH 54.1 billion in April) or 18% of total expenditures, which is UAH 25.7 billion or 13.7% more than in the same period last year.
– uAH 163 billion was allocated for subsidies and current transfers to enterprises (institutions, organizations) (in April, this amounted to UAH 40.6 billion) or 13.7% of total expenditures.
– uAH 92.5 billion was spent on public debt service (UAH 34 billion in April) or 7.8% of the total (up by UAH 28 billion or 43.4% compared to the same period last year);
– uAH 53.9 billion for transfers to local budgets (UAH 15.3 billion in April) or 4.5% of the total (up by UAH 3.1 billion or 6.1% compared to the same period last year).
