The government predicts that 10 million Ukrainians will benefit from state aid worth 1,000 hryvnias

The Cabinet of Ministers expects that about 10 million Ukrainians will apply for the payment of 1,000 hryvnias in aid from the state. This was stated by the Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity Denys Ulyutin in response to Radio Liberty’s question about the budget of the “Winter Support” programs during a meeting between government officials and journalists.

Therefore, for the payment of 1,000 hryvnias of one-time assistance, the budget of the ministry provided about 10 billion hryvnias.

Another 4.4 billion, according to Ulyutin, were budgeted for a one-time payment of 6,500 hryvnias to Ukrainians who suffered the most from the war or are in difficult life circumstances.

“Ministry of Social Policy is focused on supporting people in difficult life circumstances, families with children, internally displaced persons, people with disabilities and the elderly. In total, about 15 million people are recipients of one or another form of state support in Ukraine. The funds provided for the payment of 1,000 hryvnias as part of the government’s “winter support” take into account the needs of these people. This includes paying for utilities, medicine, and warm clothes or shoes,” Ulyutin said.

Former President Volodymyr Zelenskyi reported on preparation for the launch of a complex of new support programs for Ukrainians in the winter period of 2025-2026.

Funds for these two support programs are included in the budget of the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity for 2025, the Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity clarified.

As Denis Ulyutin explained, applications for the payment of one-time assistance in the form of 1,000 hryvnias will be accepted from November 15 to December 15, 2025. After that, funds will be gradually paid out.

According to Prime Minister Yulia Svyridenko, last year more than 14 million Ukrainians took advantage of a one-time payment of 1,000 hryvnias. People spent 57% of the funds on paying for communal services, the head of government added.

When asked by journalists why this year the government expects a smaller number of applications for one-time assistance than last year, Denys Ulyutin noted that the projected figure is lower due to the shortening of the application deadline.

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It will be possible to use the funds in advance within six months, however, the specific term is still being discussed, Prime Minister Yulia Svyridenko added.

The Prime Minister also reacted to criticisms about the populism of this year’s “winter support”, which is actively being written about in social networks.

In response to journalists’ questions, the Prime Minister said that last year, when the one-time payment program of one thousand hryvnias to Ukrainians was introduced for the first time, “there was no less criticism.”

“I don’t consider it populism. The war continues, we are not getting richer, this program should support people in the winter period,” said Svyridenko.

She also noted that the number of Ukrainians who received one-time assistance last year is comparable to the number of recipients of social benefits from the state.

Last year, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi initiated from December 1, 2024 one-time assistance programwhich provides for the payment of one thousand hryvnias for each Ukrainian to “support the population in the winter period.” For this thousand, you can pay for utilities, medicine, transport, mobile communication, purchase of Ukrainian books and other services, as well as transfer money to support the army.

Last winter, funds under the “Winter is Support” program in the amount of 1,000 hryvnias were credited to a national cashback card, which could be opened at one of the program’s partner banks until the end of winter.