Budget 2026: Salaries will rise by hundreds, while maintenance of deputies will increase threefold

The State Budget of Ukraine for 2026

According to ХВИЛЯ: The President of Ukraine signed the Law on the State Budget for 2026, which sparked public controversy due to the freezing of social indicators and the disproportion in funding for the army and the state apparatus. According to the new changes, the minimum wage will rise from 8000 UAH to 8647 UAH, and the living wage for people with disabilities will increase from 2361 UAH to 2595 UAH. The average living wage per person will also rise to 3209 UAH, which is expected to positively impact the welfare of citizens.

However, against the backdrop of these increases, the expenses for the maintenance of deputies have significantly risen, now amounting to nearly 200 thousand UAH per month, compared to the previous 60 thousand. Funding for the telethon and the 'Rada' channel is also planned at around 1.5 billion UAH. Pensions related to the loss of a breadwinner will be increased:

• for one person - 2595 UAH;
• for two persons - 3114 UAH;
• for three or more persons - 3892.5 UAH;

For families of fallen servicemen, the minimum payment will amount to 5190 UAH, and the allowance for combatants will rise to 5449.5 UAH.

Discussion of the Budget

People's Deputy Irina Polyakova expressed concern about the funding, stating:

‘There is no money, maybe we will find it later.’ - Irina Polyakova

She also emphasized that ‘with this money, we could have bought thousands of drones, while we continue to pay for airtime that is needed by no one’. These comments reflect a widespread discussion about the priorities of the state budget and its impact on various sectors of society.

This budget has become a topic of discussion not only due to its social aspects but also due to the increase in expenditures on the maintenance of the state apparatus, raising concerns in society. The increase in social standards is an important step, but criticism regarding the funding of deputies and media resources indicates potential conflicts of interest and the need to review spending priorities. In the context of growing needs for defense financing and social support, further discussions about the budget's effectiveness may become key in shaping policy for the coming years.