Ukraine’s Prime Minister: $4.4 bln spent on Armed Forces of Ukraine monthly

Ukraine spends around $4.4 bln per month on maintaining its Armed Forces, said the country’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in an interview to Ukrainian news outlet LB.

“As of today, it is true that Ukraine’s budget has changed. In the past, we spent around 156 bln hryvnia ($5.3 bln) a year on maintaining the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Ukrainian army; today we spend around 130 bln hryvnia ($4.4 bln) — per month,” said Shmyhal.

According to him, spending on “social benefits, demining, and emergency repairs” has increased. More than 30 bln hryvnia ($1.02 bln) was allocated towards the programme Support Available for Ukrainians who had lost their jobs.

The country’s entire budget amounts to about 250 bln hryvnia ($8,5 bln) per month, noted Shmyhal. Out of that sum, from $2.4 bln to $3.4 bln is received from taxes and customs.

“Each month, there’s a need for the remaining $4-5 bln. As of today, there are agreements on corresponding support — the sum promised to us is almost $29 bln, we have so far received a big part of that money. What we need left is about $20 bln,” said the prime minister.

He added that Ukraine receives help from the US, EU, IMF, World Bank, and IBRD.

Previously, during the NATO summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine needed help to fight against Russia: he asked for arms, financial aid, and to impose sanctions against the Russian Federation.

According to him, supply of arms allows to “completely break down Russia’s tactics of destroying cities and terrorising civilians”.