Kyiv adds nearly $10 billion to military spending for 2025

The Verkhovna Rada has approved a major increase in Ukraine’s defence spending for 2025, adding 412 billion hryvnias — equivalent to approximately $9.98 billion — to the national budget to strengthen the country’s security and defence sector.

According to a UNIAN correspondent, 332 deputies voted in favour of Bill No. 13573, which amends the Law of Ukraine “On the State Budget for 2025.”

The legislation raises government expenditures on defence and national security by UAH 412.4 billion in total, of which UAH 401.6 billion (approximately $9.72 billion) will be drawn from the general fund. The distribution of funds is as follows:

• Ministry of Defence (including the State Special Transport Service) – UAH 310.8 billion ($7.53 billion)

• Ministry of Internal Affairs system, including the State Border Guard Service, National Police, and National Guard – UAH 84.1 billion ($2.04 billion)

• Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) – UAH 1.6 billion ($38.7 million)

• Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence – UAH 4.5 billion ($109 million)

• State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection – UAH 64.5 million  ($1.56 million)

• State Security Administration – UAH 505 million ($12.23 million)

The Ministry of Economy cited changes in several macroeconomic indicators for 2025 — including revised figures for average monthly wages and enterprise profits — along with a rise in actual revenues from key income sources, as the basis for reassessing and expanding the budget forecast.

Earlier this year, the government submitted a similar proposal to raise defence spending by UAH 449 billion ($10.87 billion), with then-Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stating that increased revenues and domestic borrowing would cover the additional expenses.

This latest increase follows last year’s decision by the Rada to add UAH 500 billion ($12.1 billion) in extra security and defence spending. Total defence-related expenditures in 2024 reached a historic high of UAH 3.73 trillion ($90.3 billion), marking the largest military budget in Ukraine’s history.

By Tamilla Hasanova