Denys Shmyhal commissions to conduct an audit of expenditures of COVID-19 Response Fund

The Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal has instructed the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine to conduct an audit of the expenditures of the COVID-19 Response Fund.

In particular, at a session of the Government on June 17, addressing the Minister of Finance of Ukraine Serhii Marchenko, the Prime Minister reminded that about two months ago the Government had established the Fund to combat COVID-19 and its consequences with a resource of almost UAH 65 billion.

"This is a huge amount from Ukrainian taxpayers and they must see where exactly these funds are spent. Therefore, I commission the Ministry of Finance to conduct an audit of expenditures from the Fund, report and publish this information. It should be updated weekly," said the Prime Minister.

Besides, Denys Shmyhal asked the Ministers to prepare detailed reports from the ministries they are responsible for on what exactly the funds allocated for the fight against coronavirus have been directed. "In the future, colleagues, let's be clear on the following. If you plan to receive funding from the COVID-19 Response Fund, you must do it publicly. Publish draft decisions on the allocation of funds in advance, explain to the public why you think that these funds should be allocated in one direction or another. And we with the Government will publicly consider such resolutions and orders," Denys Shmyhal added.

According to him, it will be honest and responsible in relation to society. "I believe that we have effectively managed the Fund's resource up to this day, and I am sure we will continue to do so. The Fund has cash expenditures less than UAH 2 billion, but there are more than 30 billion funding that has already been allocated. It is critical for us to ensure the society and the Verkhovna Rada understand the purposes for which we use the resource of the Fund, and we must be open with them," the Prime Minister summed up.