Ukraine's budget spending on defense, security up 49.5% in May to nearly 60% of all spending

MOSCOW. June 30 (Interfax) - Ukraine's spending on defense, public order, security and judiciary increased by 49.5% in May this year compared to April to UAH 134.6 billion.

Ukrainian media report that, according to data on state budget spending posted on the National Bank's website, those expenditures reached 59.7% of total state budget expenditures in May compared to 51.2% in April this year and 20.1% in May last year. The budget allocated UAH 97.4 billion for defense in May, which is 56.7% more than in April 2022 and 7.7 times more than in May 2021.

Spending on public order, security and judiciary in May this year amounted to UAH 37.14 billion, which exceeded the figure for April this year by 33.4%, and was three times higher than in May last year.

According to the economic classification of expenses, the biggest growth in May 2022 was for labor remuneration and payroll - 47.9% compared to April 2022 and 4.4 times compared to May 2021. These expenses reached UAH 90.4 billion.

Overall state budget expenditures in May 2022 were UAH 225.5 billion, which is 28.4% more than April 2022 and 81.6% more than May 2021.

At the same time, state budget revenue in May this year amounted to UAH 107.5 billion, up 28.5% compared to April this year, but fell 9.5% compared to May last year.

A significant portion of this revenue was grants from the EU, other states and international organizations - UAH 15.9 billion in May compared to UAH 21.8 billion in April. The rest of the deficit in May was financed through the purchase of government bonds by the National Bank and market participants, as well as external borrowing and the use of funds from the single treasury account - about UAH 38 billion.