Expenditures of Ukraine's budget general fund up 25.3% YoY in Sept 2025 - Finance Ministry

MOSCOW. Oct 20 (Interfax) - Expenditures of the Ukrainian budget's general fund stood at UAH 312.6 billion in September 2025, which is UAH 47.4 billion, of 25.3% more than in September 2024, Ukrainian media reported citing a statement on the Finance Ministry's website.

The expenditures reached UAH 2.82 trillion in January-September 2025, which is UAH 473.5 billion, or 20.2% more than in the same period last year, the statement said.

"General fund expenditures on security and defense stood at UAH 1.78 trillion in January-September 2025, or 63.3% of the general fund's total spending, including UAH 210.8 billion in September," it said.

Security and defense spending totaled UAH 214.6 billion in August, when the general fund's total expenditures stood at UAH 333.6 billion.

For the fifth consecutive month, the Finance Ministry's report does not offer any detailed data on service members' wages, procurement of military hardware, weapons, ammunition, defense-related products, as well as transfers to the National Health Service of Ukraine, the Pension Fund, and the Entrepreneurship Development Fund.

In the expenditure breakdown by economic classification, the largest amount, UAH 1.13 trillion, in January-September 2025 was spent on wages and related accruals, including UAH 135.2 billion in September, or 40.1% of the period's total spending. Compared with the same period of 2024, these figures grew by UAH 200.8 billion, or 21.6%. including by UAH 24 billion, or by 21.6% in September alone.

Spending on the use of goods and services stood at UAH 397.3 billion in January-September 2025, including UAH 53.6 billion in September, or 17.1% of the total expenditures. In the same period of 2024, they stood at UAH 363.9 billion, including UAH 32.5 billion in September.

According to the statement, UAH 474.9 billion, or 17.6% of the total spending, in January-September 2025 went to social welfare, i.e. payments of pensions, benefits, and stipends, which is UAH 63.1 billion, or 15.3% more than in the January-September 2024. This spending in September 2025 totaled UAH 55.1 billion versus UAH 35.1 billion in September 2024.

Spending on subsidies and current transfers to enterprises (institutions and organizations) amounted to UAH 347.1 billion in January-September 2025, or 12.3% of the total spending, including UAH 33.6 billion in September. In January-September 2024, these expenditures grew by UAH 121.3 billion, or 54.5%.

Public debt servicing costs increased by UAH 28.8 billion year-on-year to UAH 246.3 billion, or 8.7% of the general fund's total spending, including UAH 13 billion in September.

Transfers to local budgets in January-September 2025 accounted for UAH 139.3 billion, or 4.9% of the general fund's total spending, including UAH 16 billion in September. Compared with January-September 2024, these figures grew by UAH 8.5 billion, or 6.5%.

As reported, Ukrainian budget revenues reached UAH 2.71 trillion in January-September 2025, including UAH 1.92 trillion for the general fund, which is 25.0% and 22.1% higher, respectively, than in the same period of 2024.

In 2024, the general fund's revenues grew by UAH 513.9 billion, or 30.9% to UAH 2.177 trillion, while its expenditures rose by UAH 454.5 billion, or 15% to UAH 3.489 trillion.

As reported, the state budget for 2025 was approved with revenues of UAH 2.327 trillion, including UAH 2.133 trillion for the general fund (excluding grants and international assistance), and with expenditures of UAH 3.929 trillion, including UAH 3.592 trillion for the general fund. At the end of July, the Verkhovna Rada, acting at the government's initiative, increased this year's budget expenditures by UAH 400.5 billion and revenues by UAH 147.5 billion. In October, the government again proposed raising defense spending by a further UAH 317 billion.