Ukraine’s 2026 Budget: An In-Depth Look at Priorities and Current Challenges
At the dawn of a new political and economic cycle, the Ukrainian government is actively preparing its main financial document — the state budget for 2026.
As Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko announced, the primary focus of this budget will be funding defense-related expenses, responding to regional security challenges and external aggression threats.According to her, the draft budget allocates a substantial amount for the social sector — 36.5 billion hryvnias to support communities, which includes infrastructure development, healthcare services, and social programs.
Additionally, the plan designates 120 billion hryvnias for education, covering the construction of new shelters in schools and kindergartens, as well as free meals for students.
Significant funds are also allocated for internally displaced persons (IDPs), with 15 billion hryvnias intended for housing support.The budget proposal will be submitted to the Verkhovna Rada on September 15.
Moreover, specialists are actively preparing for the 2025/2026 heating season, with the overall readiness of critical infrastructure across key sectors already exceeding 80%, signaling stability for the upcoming heating period.A pressing issue is Ukraine’s gas reserves.
Data shows that as of September 1, underground gas storage facilities held 11.2 billion cubic meters of gas.
Of this, 6.6 billion cubic meters are active reserves serving as buffers that cannot be withdrawn.
There are two months remaining to fill an additional 2 billion cubic meters, a vital step for winter security.
Energy security expert Serhiy Makogon emphasizes that ensuring adequate gas reserves remains a critical challenge, dependent on effective resource management and policy measures.