Budgetary matters in Pivdennoukrainsk will now be decided by the head of the city’s military administration

Budgetary decisions in Pivdennoukrainsk will be taken by the head of the military administration. Photo: Executive Committee of the Pivdennoukrainsk City Council

Following the establishment of the municipal military administration in Pivdennoukrainsk, budgetary and tariff decisions will be made by its head, Ivan Kukhta. The Executive Committee will now merely take note of the information.

This was announced during a meeting of the Executive Committee of the South Ukrainian City Council on 20 August, according to NikVesti.

In an order dated 17 August, Ivan Kukhta, head of the military administration, announced that from that day onwards he would begin to exercise the powers of head of the Pivdennoukrainsk City Military Administration.

Order from the head of the Pivdennoukrainsk City Military Administration. Screenshot

At the start of the Executive Committee meeting on 20 August, Ivan Kukhta announced that the Executive Committee would only be able to hear reports on certain items on the agenda. This is because the budget and tariffs fall within the remit of the head of the military administration.

«As a military administration has been established, matters relating to the budget — budget planning, budget approval and amendments — will be decided exclusively by the head of the military administration. Everything concerning tariffs also falls exclusively within the remit of the military administration,» noted Ivan Kukhta.

Executive Committee meeting on 20 August. Photo: Executive Committee of the Pivdennoukrainsk City Council

Members of the Executive Committee heard the report on the budget forecast and took note of the information. The speaker explained that the forecast took into account the Cabinet of Ministers’ resolution approving increases in the minimum wage for the coming years, as well as inflation.

«Revenue in the forecast for 2027 stands at 1.25 billion hryvnias, for 2028 at 1.32 billion hryvnias, and for 2029 at 1.40 billion hryvnias. On a comparable basis, the growth rate of revenue and expenditure is just 105.6 per cent,» the rapporteur reported.

Reverse subsidies to the budget have also been calculated for the three-year period: 337.69 million hryvnias for 2027, 403.6 million hryvnias for 2028 and 465.6 million hryvnias for 2029.

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«If we compare the 5.6 per cent growth in revenue, the growth in the reverse subsidy, unfortunately, stands at 14–16 per cent for these years,» added the speaker.

In response to questions from members of the executive committee, it was noted that the forecast for 2029 alone includes funding for the major refurbishment of the hospital’s admissions department.

«For 2029, the admissions department accounts for 30.9 million hryvnias, plus 13.5 million for the construction of on-site wastewater treatment facilities. A protective structure on the hospital grounds will cost 120 million hryvnias. As for the hospital’s general upkeep, the forecast includes, as we always do, only energy costs, as well as subsidised pensions — a very small sum amounting to less than 200,000 hryvnias — and the implementation of healthcare programmes for the public,» the speaker noted.

It should be recalled that on 3 July, the head of the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration, Vitalii Kim, introduced Ivan Kukhta, the head of the newly established Pivdennoukrainsk City Military Administration, to the parliamentary delegation, law enforcement officials and military leadership. One of the tasks identified was to enhance the community’s defence capabilities.

The day before, on 2 July, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree establishing the Pivdennoukrainsk City Military Administration. On the same day, it emerged that Ivan Kukhta, head of the Snihurivka City Military Administration, had been relieved of his post and appointed head of the new South Ukrainian Administration.

The decree was preceded by a prolonged period of conflict in the city: on 1 July 2026, NikVesti reported that Pivdennoukrainsk was on the verge of establishing a military administration because the city council had not convened since February, and a grant of 5.2 million euros from Denmark was at risk.

Even earlier, at the end of May 2026, Kim had submitted documents to the president requesting the establishment of a military administration in Pivdennoukrainsk, noting that the decision rested with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.