Pervomaisk councillors are drafting an appeal to the authorities demanding the return of ₴40 billion for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Pervomaisk City Council. Photo: Wikipedia

Members of the Pervomaisk City Council plan to appeal to the President of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada and the Cabinet of Ministers, calling for increased support for military personnel and a review of approaches to defence funding.

The document has been published on the Pervomaisk City Council website and will be considered at a council meeting.

The appeal was drafted after the Verkhovna Rada adopted amendments to the state budget, whereby 40 billion hryvnias, previously earmarked for the procurement of weapons, were reallocated to the reserve fund.

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In the appeal, the councillors emphasised that Ukraine continues to fight thanks to its military, and therefore «adequate pay for military personnel, fair conditions of service and sufficient funding for the defence sector must be one of the main priorities of state policy».

«Many local authorities are effectively performing functions that should be provided by the central government. At a time when the state needs to concentrate its resources as much as possible to support the front line, cutting defence funding is an unacceptable mistake that must be rectified immediately,» the document states.

The councillors point out that many servicemen have been on the front line since the start of the full-scale invasion and still have no clear prospects regarding rotation or demobilisation. In their view, such uncertainty «has a negative impact on the morale and psychological well-being of personnel, creates tension in society and undermines trust in state institutions».

Separately, the appeal expresses concern over what the councillors consider to be insufficient attention to the needs of the military during the preparation of amendments to the state budget.

Among the key demands are the restoration of 40 billion hryvnias to the Ministry of Defence for the procurement of weapons, the establishment of clear terms of military service, an increase in military personnel’s pay, and the introduction of incentive payments upon signing contracts.

They also called on the state to develop a comprehensive programme to support service personnel, veterans and their families.

«Treating military personnel with dignity is a key issue of national security and a prerequisite for the country’s survival,» the appeal states.

Text of the appeal. Screenshot of the document

Text of the appeal. Screenshot of the document

Text of the appeal. Screenshot of the document

It should be noted that 240 councillors voted in favour of Bill №15224 at its first reading. Under the bill, the state budget’s reserve fund will be increased by 40 billion hryvnias, and a further 40 billion will be allocated to implement comprehensive resilience plans for regions and individual cities.