Odesa's Commitment to Supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine
During the ongoing armed conflict, Odesa plays a crucial role in supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine. From February 24, 2022, to July 1, 2025, the city budget has allocated 5.5 billion UAH to counter Russian aggression.
The majority of expenditures are directed towards supporting military forces, defense units, and security measures.
Starting from October 2023, military and law enforcement personnel's income tax has been removed from city budgets.
This amounts to over 1 billion UAH annually that is directed to the state for the centralized purchase of drones and electronic warfare systems.
Despite the resource withdrawal and budget constraints, Odesa city council members unanimously approve decisions to continue supporting the military, prioritizing units operating on the front lines.
The largest funding for countering Russian aggression was allocated in 2024, totaling 2.16 billion UAH. In the first half of 2025, 632.9 million UAH has already been financed, with an additional 732.7 million UAH planned for the end of the year, including requests from military units.
Odesa has repeatedly received gratitude from military personnel, including Territorial Defense brigades, for their ongoing support and assistance.
Under the Ukrainian Law on "Foundations of National Resistance" and the City Program for Supporting Territorial Defense, material and technical support has been provided to Odesa brigades, totaling over 379 million UAH: vehicles, drones, electronic warfare systems, boats, digital equipment, gear, first-aid kits, charging stations, generators, radios, cameras, simulators, laundry and bathing complexes, containers, and more.
In 2025, 91.4 million UAH is allocated for fulfilling requests from any Territorial Defense units (regardless of territorial affiliation) within the City Target Program. In 2024, nearly 11.4 million UAH was allocated from the city budget to support NGOs that assisted in the procurement of electronic warfare systems and drones for Territorial Defense. An additional 50 million UAH is planned for 2025.
The city is also developing veteran policies: providing rehabilitation services, creating an accessible environment, supporting families of the fallen and individuals with disabilities, and organizing hero burials.
Furthermore, one-time assistance is provided to mobilized contractors. Given the regular enemy shelling, Odesa also provides residents with material aid to restore broken windows and doors; repairs damaged residential buildings, schools, kindergartens, critical and road infrastructure, maintains shelters and warning systems, and supports internally displaced persons.
