Budget lost 32 bln hryvnias in two months due to strikes on business - Pidlasa
Ukraine's state budget in August and September fell short of about 32 bln hryvnias in planned tax revenues. Revenues are increasingly affected by Russian attacks on enterprises, production facilities and logistics infrastructure.
This was reported by the head of the Verkhovna Rada Budget Committee Roksolana Pidlasa in a Facebook.
According to her, revenue deterioration has become particularly noticeable in the last two months. Russian attacks result in shutdowns or production cuts, destruction of products and equipment, disruption of logistics chains. For the budget, this means a reduction in the tax base and, consequently, actual revenues lagging behind the planned target.
The problem started to escalate rapidly back in August. According to the parliamentary budget committee, in January–August the general fund of the state budget (excluding grants) received about 1.7 trillion hryvnias — 33.1 bln hryvnias less than plan.
Almost half of the gap accumulated by that time occurred in August alone: during the month the budget underperformed by 15.6 bln hryvnias.
The most significant deficit for the eight months was recorded for the VAT on domestically produced goods and services. Revenues were 35.6 bln hryvnias, or 14%, lower than target. Import VAT received 23.8 bln hryvnias less than planned, domestic excise – by 12.1 bln hryvnias.
At the same time, a number of revenue sources exceeded their targets. In particular, corporate profit tax for January–August brought in over 29.2 bln hryvnias in extra revenue, and personal income tax and military levy receipts were 8 bln hryvnias higher than planned. These overpayments from individual taxes partially offset the shortfall in other areas.
In September pressure on tax revenues continued. According to final data of the State Tax Service, in the month the general fund of the state budget received 79.6 bln hryvnias in taxes and fees administered by the STS.
The largest source was VAT: it was paid in the amount of 46.8 bln hryvnias, with 9.9 bln hryvnias refunded to businesses. Personal income tax revenue amounted to 20.3 bln hryvnias, excise – 12.3 bln hryvnias, corporate profit tax – 4.3 bln hryvnias, rent payments – 3.7 bln hryvnias.
At the same time, in annual terms tax receipts continue growing. For January–September, the general fund of the state budget collected 1.027 trillion hryvnias in payments administered by the tax authority. This is 76.8 bln hryvnias, or 8.1%, more than for the same period in 2025.
However, growth over last year does not mean fulfilment of the current budget plan. The 2026 budget envisaged growth of both revenues and expenditures, primarily for defence; hence to finance planned expenditures it is important to achieve this year's performance targets.
The tax service itself also explicitly links the slowdown in receipt growth to Russian attacks. The department notes that strikes disrupt production and logistics, cause loss of production capacity and destruction of finished products.
Nevertheless, total state budget revenues significantly exceed tax collections alone. According to operational data of the Ministry of Finance, in September the general fund factored 192.7 bln hryvnias from taxes, fees and other mandatory payments. This amount also includes customs receipts and other incomes.
Another 34.5 bln hryvnias came to Ukraine in September as international grants. Customs payments totalled 73.3 bln hryvnias.
At the same time, the burden on the budget remains high. According to the Ministry of Finance, in January–August alone expenditures from the general fund reached 2.97 trillion hryvnias, of which 1.84 trillion hryvnias (62%) funded the security and defence. In August expenditures came to 396 bln hryvnias, including 215.3 bln hryvnias for defence and security-related needs.
Thus, regular strikes on enterprises place a double burden on public finances: the budget loses some expected domestic revenues while retaining high spending on defence.
