Based on the results of the first half of the year, communities in Lviv region have collectively channelled more than 2.3 billion hryvnias to meet the needs of the Defence Forces and to address the consequences of Russian aggression. The level of financial support for the military is seen as one of the key indicators of the priorities set by local authorities during the full-scale war.
At the same time, an analysis of expenditure reveals a significant gap between communities. Some of them demonstrate a clear understanding that every budget hryvnia today must primarily be directed towards strengthening defence. However, there are also those where the share of support for the security and defence sector remains extremely low.
The lowest figure has been recorded in the Sambir community. According to the budget execution data provided, with cash expenditures of more than UAH 216 million in the first half of the year, only about UAH 3.9 million was allocated here for the needs of the military. This is roughly 1.8% of all expenditure, which is why Sambir is being described as the region’s laggard in terms of the share of funding for defence.
The publication stresses that there has recently been a change of power in Sambir. The situation will now be closely monitored to see whether the new leadership takes into account the requests of the military and whether these needs are reflected in future budget decisions. The author points out that if, even after the change of officials, the level of support for the Defence Forces remains unchanged, it will be difficult to speak of real change, beyond a mere change of surnames.
Questions regarding the low percentage of expenditure on the Security and Defence Forces are also being addressed to the leadership of other communities. The article mentions:
- Truskavets City Council – around 3.6% of expenditure on defence;
- Drohobych City Council – approximately 3.5%;
- Sokal City Council – roughly 3.3%.
Given the size of these communities’ budgets, such proportions of funding for the Security and Defence Forces of Ukraine are described as rather low and raising many questions about the priorities of local authorities.
The article underlines that each community makes its own budget decisions, but it is precisely by these decisions that residents can assess to what extent support for defenders, both men and women, is not merely declarative, but real and prioritised.