More than some EU countries spend in a year: how much does Ukraine spend on defence every day?

Ukraine currently spends more on the war than some EU countries allocate to defence for an entire year. Daily expenses amount to several hundred million. Find out how much money is being spent on the war and which European countries spend less

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Ukraine continues to pay a huge price for the war against Russia — and we are talking not only about human lives, but also about finances. According to Roksolana Pidlasa, chair of the Verkhovna Rada Budget Committee, each day of hostilities costs the state $172 million. That is $30 million more than a year ago.

Ukraine spends 31% of its GDP on defence

According to Pidlasa, Ukraine currently allocates 31% of its GDP to the defence sector — the highest figure in the world. For comparison, the mandatory standard for NATO countries is 2% of GDP, and even countries such as Poland and Estonia, which have significantly increased their defence budgets due to the threat from Russia, spend around 4-5%.

What is included in the expenditure

These funds cover the salaries of military personnel and the purchase of weapons and ammunition. But that's not all: the state also provides support for wounded soldiers, assistance to the families of those killed, and financial support to the families of those missing in action. Thus, the costs of war extend far beyond the front lines and affect millions of citizens.

Podlasa recalled that Ukraine's economy had already recovered to its pre-war GDP level twice — in 2021 and 2024, after the devastating consequences of a full-scale invasion. However, according to her, ‘Russia stole 11 years of growth from Ukraine,’ which is why the burden on the budget is particularly acute today.

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Comparison with the EU: one day of war versus one year's budget

To understand the scale, one can compare Ukraine's daily expenses with the military budgets of some European Union countries. For example, military spending in Malta amounted to $112.60 million in 2023 and up to $109.30 million in 2024. Montenegro's military spending, according to data from the end of 2024, amounted to about $150 million. In other words, one day of war for Ukraine is equal to or even exceeds the annual military spending of these European countries. Kosovo spends slightly more per year — $208 million (for 2025).

Reminder! The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence has changed the procedure for payments to the families of deceased military personnel. These payments are intended to provide stable support to the families of defenders and apply to all units of the Security and Defence Forces. Find out what details of the new procedure are important for the families of deceased soldiers to know.

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

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