"200 thousand for work with voters": how deputies tripled their payments during the war

While the government explains that every hryvnia in the 2026 budget depends on negotiations with the IMF and partners, the Verkhovna Rada is quietly adding a bonus for itself to this very budget: compensation for deputies' expenses is increasing threefold. Formally, it is for "reception rooms and lawyers." In fact, it is another bill that the society is being offered to pay from the "patience of voters" section.

In the 2026 state budget approved by the Verkhovna Rada, the deputies made an amendment that was almost imperceptible to the general public, but very noticeable to themselves: compensation for expenses related to the performance of deputy powers is increased from one to three monthly salaries of the people's representative and is not taxable.^{9 6} Taking into account current official salaries, this means approximately tripling such payments — approximately up to 200 thousand hryvnias per month per People's Deputy instead of the previous amount equivalent to one salary.^{6 8}

In the explanations to the budget, this norm is hidden in the conclusions of the budget committee to the draft financial document, which the Rada supported on December 3 with 257 votes "in favor."^{6 9} Unofficially, as UNIAN writes, the deputies themselves confirm: the increase takes effect from January 1, 2026, and it concerns "funds for deputy activities" - maintenance of reception rooms, payment of assistants, lawyers, trips to the regions, and "work with voters."⁹

What exactly was the norm pushed through the 2026 budget?

The key wording is contained in the conclusions of the Budget Committee to the draft law on the 2026 state budget: "a People's Deputy of Ukraine shall be reimbursed for expenses related to the performance of his or her parliamentary powers in the amount of three monthly salaries of a People's Deputy of Ukraine, which are not subject to taxation."^{6 9} Previously, the compensation was equal to one month's salary, so the decision effectively triples the amount of these payments without any additional tax burden for the parliamentarians themselves.^{6 8}

At the same time, the draft law for 2026 partially renews the provisions of the law "On the Status of a People's Deputy of Ukraine" specifically in terms of reimbursement of expenses that were limited or frozen in previous years due to martial law and budget sequestration.^{8 9} In other words, the deputies are not only adding two more "conditional salaries" to themselves on top, but also removing a number of temporary restrictions introduced as an anti-crisis measure at the beginning of a full-scale war.

How much is it in money and who pays?

According to Ukrainian media estimates, taking into account the average salary of a people's deputy of approximately 70–80 thousand hryvnias per month, the new norm provides a total payment of about 200 thousand hryvnias per month for each elected official in the column "compensation for expenses for deputy activities."^{6 8} In general, if you multiply this by 450 deputy mandates (regardless of the actual number of current deputies), the annual volume of these compensations alone can be measured in billions of hryvnias — funds that come from the state budget, and therefore from taxpayers' taxes and external financing that goes to close the deficit.^{3 9}

It is worth remembering that this is not about the base salary or official "combat bonuses", but about an additional item of expenditure - money for receptions, consultants, "work with voters", etc., which are directly exempt from taxation.^{6 8} For a significant part of society, which lives on much more modest amounts and at the same time hears from the government about the need to "tighten its belts," such a financial appetite of the parliament seems, to put it mildly, dissonant with the military reality.

How it was "sewn" into the budget of a warring country

The decision to triple compensation was not made in a separate law "on salaries", but within the main financial document - the budget for 2026, which the Verkhovna Rada supported in the second reading and as a whole on December 3.^{6 9} The same budget where the government officially records record defense spending, a deficit of over 18% of GDP, and dependence on external financing of hundreds of billions of hryvnias.^{3 5}

Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko emphasized in a speech in parliament that the final parameters of Ukraine's expenditures in 2026 directly depend on the results of negotiations with partners — from the IMF to the EU and the G7 — regarding the volume of aid and loans.^{9 3} The head of the budget committee, Roksolana Pidlasa, honestly warned: the 2026 budget will almost certainly have to be revised next year, because the situation with the war, the economy, and support is changing too quickly.⁹ Against the background of these reservations, the appearance in the document of a bonus for elected representatives looks, at the very least, bold in its attitude towards its own electorate.

Official explanation: "it's not about luxury, it's about work"

Supporters of the increase — in particular, some members of the monomajority — publicly explain that this is not about "golden parachutes," but about the basic support for the work of parliament.⁸ In media comments, People's Deputy Maryana Bezugla called the criticism "populism," insisting that the funds are intended for high-quality lawmaking, payment of lawyers, experts, analysts, maintenance of a network of reception centers, and trips to frontline regions, where voters also have the right to see and hear their representatives.⁸

The argument sounds familiar: they say that if deputies and their teams are not paid enough, either the quality of laws will fail, or part of the spending will be "quietly transferred" into the shadows - through opaque financing from business, lobbyists, or local elites.^{4 8} To be fair, the problem of real financing of politics does indeed exist — but society naturally asks a counter question: why did its solution begin with a threefold increase in compensation for the already not-so-poorest population group?

Public reaction: from "betrayal" to demands to repeal the norm

The news about the increase in payments to people's deputies instantly spread across social networks: headlines like "deputies tripled their payments" appeared both in Ukrainian online publications and on the pages of local councils, which reprinted materials from UNIAN and other media outlets.^{6 9 13} Videos and posts with sarcastic comments about "200 thousand for the love of voters," "working with a premium electorate," and "patriotism in three salaries" quickly gained popularity on TikTok and Facebook.

Some public organizations and independent experts have already stated that such a budget norm during a full-scale war undermines trust in parliament and plays into the hands of Russian propaganda, which traditionally plays on the theme of corruption and "fat elites" in warring Ukraine.^{3 5} The risk is especially sensitive against the backdrop of high-profile anti-corruption investigations in recent months — from NABU's Operation Midas to the resignations of ministers and heads of law enforcement agencies, which have already led international partners to closely scrutinize every item in the Ukrainian budget.^{2 3}

How does this look against the backdrop of "belt-tightening" requirements?

The contrast is intensified by the fact that, in parallel with the adoption of the 2026 budget, the government and parliament are publicly talking about difficult decisions for society: from the possible optimization of social programs to strengthening tax discipline and stricter mobilization and reservation rules.^{3 11} The IMF and other donors directly indicate: Ukraine must demonstrate the most responsible and transparent budget policy in order to justify the loans and grants provided - and this is where the paragraph about additional hundreds of millions for parliamentary expenses comes into play.

For many Ukrainians, who have been living for the third year in a regime of reduced incomes, volunteer fees, and "suspended" payments from the state, the news about a threefold increase in compensation for people's deputies sounds like a very bad joke.^{9 11} Especially when there are parallel discussions about the fairness of the financial support of the military, who receive less than the total compensation package and salaries of one MP, who theoretically should represent their interests.

Legal and political implications: can they undo it?

Formally, the provision on increasing compensation is part of the law on the state budget for 2026, therefore, its change or cancellation is possible only through new amendments to the budget or a separate law that will adjust the provisions on the status of a people's deputy and the procedure for reimbursement of expenses.^{8 9} It is obvious that without the political will of the parliamentary factions themselves, primarily the monomajority, there are few chances for such an abolition — especially if public pressure does not develop into a systemic campaign demanding a revision of this part of the budget.

At the same time, history already knows examples when, due to public outcry and the position of international partners, the Verkhovna Rada was forced to quickly "rewind" some not very popular decisions - this was the case with individual attempts to weaken anti-corruption institutions or "optimize" declarations.^{2 5} The only question is whether the triple compensation for people's deputies will become the same "red flag" to which not only the emotional segment of social networks will react, but also institutional players - from public organizations to Ukraine's partners.

International background: when every "extra" hryvnia is an argument in foreign parliaments

Ukraine enters 2026 with a record request for external financing and at the same time with the need to convince skeptical politicians in the US and EU that the funds provided are not being dissolved in corruption schemes and the inflated appetites of the elites.^{3 5} Think tanks have already warned: any high-profile stories about "self-rewarding" by Ukrainian officials will instantly become arguments for opponents of continued assistance in foreign parliaments.

Against this background, a threefold increase in payments to people's deputies, no matter how they try to embellish it with words about "fighting shadow influence," looks at least short-sighted.^{3 4} When it comes to the next tranche of loans or military support, someone will definitely want to take out the news about 200 thousand for deputies from the folder and ask a logical question: "Is this really a priority now?"

Ukrainian conclusion: whose “compensation” is this really?

Formally, the decision to increase payments was submitted as a technical amendment within the budget: to compensate parliamentarians for their work expenses so that they are less dependent on informal funding and can perform their duties more efficiently.^{8 9} Informally, society sees this as another signal that even in the third year of the great war, part of the political class is reaching for the same levers — to "add a little more," preferably quietly and in a general package of decisions.

The question is not only in the number itself, but in the moment: when the country is supported by donations, international loans, and an exhausted rear, every "compensation" for the elites is inevitably perceived as another bill issued to society.^{3 9} And the longer the deputies ignore this perspective, the more expensive it will be to restore trust later — both within the country and on those international platforms where it is decided whether Ukraine will have what to use to plug the budget holes next year.

Sources

1. CEPA: analysis of corruption investigations and their impact on trust in the Ukrainian authorities
2. Operation Midas (NABU / SAPO, analytical reviews): materials on large-scale corruption cases in the energy sector and public reaction
3. VoxUkraine, economic media: analysis of the 2026 budget deficit, external financing needs and IMF requirements
4. RRR4U / Dixi Group: monitoring reforms and partners' reactions to attempts to weaken the anti-corruption infrastructure
5. Reuters, PBS, international media: publications about corruption scandals in Ukraine and the context of budget approval
6. Novosti-N: "Ukrainian MPs have increased their salaries threefold: now they will receive 200 thousand"
7. Strana.ua: "Payments to people's deputies in 2026 increased threefold"
8. Informant: "The Verkhovna Rada supported the increase in salaries of people's deputies by UAH 120"
9. UNIAN: "People's Deputies Have Tripled Their Payments"
10. Websites of local governments (in particular, the Pereyaslav City Council): reprints of news about increasing compensation for people's deputies' expenses
11. VisitUkraine / other reference resources: overviews of changes related to the adoption of the 2026 state budget