Odessa has secured a crucial state loan to address the city's critical needs. Since the beginning of 2023, the budget of Odessa has faced a shortfall of over 3.9 billion hryvnias, which has been redirected to the state budget. Community expenditures have risen by 29%, while revenues have only increased by 14%.
In the context of war, the city’s budget allocates significant resources to mitigate the consequences of destruction, establish shelters, provide social support to residents, and assist the military and displaced persons.
These are mandatory expenses that increase every year. To prevent a collapse in other areas of life, the city council decided to take local loans.
The Ministry of Finance approved this, and this year Odessa will receive a loan of 623.4 million hryvnias from the state bank.
This funding will go towards 70 urgent projects, including:
- “Healthcare” – 186.9 million hryvnias (modern equipment for hospitals, repairs of engineering networks at the infectious diseases hospital);
- “Education” – 81.7 million hryvnias (establishment of shelters, modernization of protective structures, fire safety measures);
- “Road Management” – 125 million hryvnias (repair of streets, stops, and key overpasses);
- “Housing and Utilities” – 220.7 million hryvnias (capital repair of stormwater collector, coastal protection works, updating drainage systems and elevators. Additionally – 110 million hryvnias for connecting cogeneration machines to ensure energy resilience of critical infrastructure);
- “Civil Protection” – 9 million hryvnias (purchase of specialized equipment for rescuers).
This is not development “for the future”, but rather the resolution of urgent problems without which normal life in Odessa during the war cannot be ensured: from heating and water in homes to accessible healthcare, safe schools, and readiness for emergencies.
