Over ₴40 billion is needed to repair local roads, — Head of the State Agency for Restoration

Sukhomlyn stated that more than 40 billion hryvnias are needed to repair local roads. Illustrative photo: NikVesti

After the harsh winter of 2025–2026, significant funds are needed to repair state and local roads, which are not available.

This was stated during a briefing by Serhii Sukhomlyn, head of the State Agency for Restoration and Development.

In particular, he estimates that the restoration of local roads will require between 40 and 50 billion hryvnias. This refers to ongoing repairs and damage repair, rather than major repairs.

Sukhomlyn added that he is negotiating with the government to attract funds, but there are currently no guarantees of full financing.

«Most of the work will again be done on credit. The roads in the south and east are in terrible condition. Heavy equipment makes them virtually impassable,» he said.

The 2026 budget allocates 12.6 billion hryvnias for road development and maintenance, with another 15 billion hryvnias earmarked for servicing debts from the Ukravtodor era. According to Sukhomlyn, the government is considering the possibility of reallocating part of these funds to road repairs.

«More than 10 million square metres of roads of international and national importance are currently in need of repair. The average cost of repairing one square metre is 1,200 hryvnias. It has been calculated that about 12-14 billion hryvnias are needed today to bring these roads to a more or less normal condition,» said Serhii Sukhomlyn.

Earlier, Sukhomlyn stated that in 2026, roads in Ukraine will only be repaired on a patchwork basis, as no money has been allocated in the state budget for major repairs. Only about 15% of the minimum requirement has been allocated for road maintenance.