Yulia Svyrydenko: 2 million children across Ukraine now receive free hot school meals

The results of the implementation of the School Nutrition Reform Strategy for 2023–2025 were summarised during a working meeting attended by First Lady Olena Zelenska, the reform’s initiator, the Government team, heads of regional military administrations, and international partners.

“Thanks to Olena Zelenska’s leadership, this issue has received the necessary attention and has already become a systemic state policy. Today, 2 million children across Ukraine are receiving free hot meals in schools,” noted Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.

The state budget for 2026 allocates UAH 14.4 billion for this programme and provides funds for the modernisation of school kitchens. Over two years, thanks to state funding, 215 school kitchens have already been modernised. This year, UAH 960 million have been allocated, and for the next year, this has been increased to UAH 1 billion.

A shortage of staff remains one of the key challenges, so as part of the reform, culinary hubs are being created based on vocational education institutions to train and retrain school cooks. Using subvention funds, 11 hubs were opened in 2024, with a further eight launching this year.

“Our Government team is paying particular attention to frontline regions, as they are our security belt. That is where the reform pilot began – from the start of this academic year, free meals are provided for pupils in grades 1–11 in frontline communities,” emphasised Yulia Svyrydenko. “This reform is about supporting and strengthening communities at all levels: from children’s health and improving family wellbeing to stimulating businesses and developing the economy. We call on entrepreneurs to consider school meals as an excellent business opportunity and to get involved in its implementation, taking advantage of grants of up to UAH 8 million under the Made in Ukraine policies supporting Ukrainian producers. In this way, the funds for the reform return to communities and ensure their development. Only a state that invests in its children has a future. High-quality school meals are one such investment.”