Ukraine advances 2027 budget with proposed 20% military pay increase
Ukraine's parliament approved the draft 2027 state budget in its first reading on October 28, backing a proposal to increase minimum military salaries by at least 20% from January 1.
The bill received 239 votes in favor and 25 against.
Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi said the draft prioritizes defense and security spending, financial stability and social obligations as Ukraine continues to fight Russia's full-scale invasion.
Lawmakers also backed an amendment prohibiting the use of state budget funds for the government's National Cashback program, which offers consumers incentives to purchase Ukrainian-made goods.
The parliamentary budget committee received 5,236 proposed amendments — the highest number in 24 years, according to committee chair Roksolana Pidlasa.
She said implementing all the proposals would require an additional 13.5 trillion hryvnias, nearly twice the size of the proposed annual budget.
The government will now revise the draft ahead of its second reading. The military pay increase and other provisions are not yet final.