Ukraine Prepares New Budget Changes Amid Army Funding Shortfall
Ukraine’s government is preparing new 2026 budget amendments as the army faces a defense funding shortfall estimated at 280–300 billion hryvnias.
The Ukrainian government is again preparing amendments to the 2026 state budget due to a shortage of funds for the needs of the Armed Forces. This was reported by Verkhovna Rada deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak.
According to him, the situation is repeating itself: the Cabinet of Ministers is once again drafting budget amendments because there is not enough money for defense. Zheleznyak estimated the shortfall at about 280–300 billion hryvnias, which is more than $6.6 billion.
The lawmaker noted that the issue is expected to be considered by the Verkhovna Rada during the autumn session. According to him, the authorities will again push the changes under the slogan of an urgent need to fund the army.
Earlier, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry had already reported a lack of budget funds to pay servicemen’s salaries. Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko also said that about 270 billion hryvnias, or roughly $6 billion, was needed for these purposes.
At the same time, on June 10, the Verkhovna Rada had already amended the current year’s state budget, increasing it by 1.56 trillion hryvnias, or about $35 billion.