Dear colleagues! Fellow Ukrainians!

We are starting a regular meeting of the Government.

Today, one of the key tasks is to successfully pass the third winter of the full-scale war.

To overcome all challenges and minimise risks.

In order to do this, we continue the Winter eSupport programme initiated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

So far, Ukrainians have already submitted more than 6 million applications for a thousand hryvnias through Diia. And the number is constantly growing.

Also, since last week, Ukrposhta customers have been receiving assistance and spending it on goods and services provided by the national postal operator. Today we are launching a third option: receiving a thousand hryvnias of support through a partner bank.

This option is aimed at older people who do not use Diia, as well as guardians of minor children.

It is enough to apply to the bank, write an application, and the financial institution will open a special account for the person to receive the funds.

The Government’s partners in this programme are 13 banks that have an extensive network and can promptly provide customers with the relevant services.

I would like to remind you that the funds from the winter eSupport programme can be used to pay for utilities, education, medical transport, books, medicines, communications, or to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

A separate area of winter support is the Even More Affordable Medicines programme.

Over 5 years, more than 5 million Ukrainians have benefited from the Affordable Medicines programme, 15,000 pharmacies have been connected to it, and almost 600 medicines are available to people, more than a third of them free of charge, the rest with partial payment.

Now the programme is being updated.

First, we are adding new medicines to the list. These are 30 new active substances. In particular, medicines for rheumatological, neurological, eye and endocrinological diseases.

Second, we are expanding the programme to cover children and include medicines in the form of drops and ointments.

Third, we are expanding the network of pharmacies that will be involved in the programme. In particular, all pharmacies operating in hospitals will join the programme.

Fourthly, we will oblige pharmacies to offer customers the lowest price for medicines, taking into account the active ingredient.

Fifthly, we will provide an opportunity to purchase medicines made in Ukraine at the expense of the Winter eSupport programme.

The state budget for 2025 earmarks UAH 6.6 billion for the Even More Affordable Medicines programme.

At the same time, we are working to ensure that medicines are available in the most remote communities. For this purpose, mobile pharmacies operate in 13 regions. Also, throughout the country, including the frontline regions, there is a possibility to deliver medicines by Ukrposhta.

***

The lives and health of Ukrainians are the highest value, the key to restoring human capital, successful reconstruction and growth.

That is why we are making long-term investments and seeking resources for this purpose.

In particular, we will receive USD 454 million from the World Bank to finance the healthcare guarantee programme. This means that all the state’s obligations in the healthcare sector will be fulfilled.

The EU Council also approved the allocation of the next tranche under the Ukraine Facility programme. This is EUR 4.2 billion, which we will receive by the end of the year. This year’s total amount under this mechanism will be over EUR 16 billion.

These funds will be used for priority social and humanitarian expenditures to help Ukrainians who are in urgent need.

Today, the Government is also adopting a number of important decisions to strengthen and develop our country.

The first decision is to approve an agreement with the Government of Romania on the construction of a road bridge across the Tysa River. This will be a new logistics hub at the Bila Tserkva – Sighetu Marmaţiei checkpoint. It will expand our export opportunities and speed up the movement of people and goods across the border.

This is part of a wider programme to modernise logistics in the western direction.

The second decision is to approve the criteria for heat and water suppliers whose debts can be restructured. In particular, companies whose infrastructure has been destroyed or damaged by the enemy and which are located in the area of active hostilities will be eligible. We are also setting out an algorithm for applying for debt restructuring.

This way we will reduce the debt pressure on critical infrastructure enterprises in the frontline areas for the successful passage of the heating season.

As of now, almost 100% of all facilities – residential buildings, hospitals, schools, kindergartens – are connected to heat. Kherson, which suffers from hostile shelling, and Kryvyi Rih are the problem areas. Active repair and restoration work is underway in these cities.

The third decision we are making today is to digitise services for current and former military personnel and their families.

We are launching a pilot project that will enable applications for the following through the Diia portal:

• the status of a person with a war-related disability;
• financial assistance to the wounded;
• disability pension;
• provision of rehabilitation equipment;
• housing and utility benefits;
• services provided by the state to the families of fallen soldiers.

We are removing obstacles, speeding up processes, giving people the opportunity to exercise their rights without delays and bureaucracy.

I sincerely thank the defenders of Ukraine for their courage and steadfastness.

I am grateful to all those who keep the home front: employees of critical enterprises, teachers, doctors, utilities, rescuers, entrepreneurs, and all Ukrainians who bring victory closer with their work.

Thank you for your attention!

Glory to Ukraine!