Ukraine Roundup: State budget, travel ban, martial law

50% of state budget for military defence

At its meeting on November 9, the Ukraine parliament adopted the country’s draft state budget for 2024. The budget approved by 276 parliamentarians saw the Eastern European country cut down on capital expenditures to support the nation’s security defence. Head of the parliamentary budget committee, Roksolana Pidlas is quoted by Ukrainian news media Delo saying, "We reduced almost all capital expenditures, we removed expenditures for the repair of the facades of various state bodies." Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal also told reporters, "The priorities are set in the budget. All our internal resources will be used to resist and defeat the enemy. Practically 50% of our expenses are for the defence and security of Ukraine. There will be more weapons and equipment, drones, ammunition, and missiles. Every hryvnia of taxpayers’ taxes will go to the army."

40,000 Ukrainians face travel ban

About 43,000 Ukrainians have been denied permission to leave the country in the last ten months. The majority of the people who have been denied travel out of the country have been men, the spokesman of the State Border Service of Ukraine, Andriy Demchenko reported. "Several factors led to the rejections. Mainly, because the individuals did not fulfil the requirements to cross the border, it is primarily male Ukrainian citizens," said Demchenko on Thursday during a news conference in Kyiv.

Extension of martial law

The parliament of Ukraine on Wednesday extended the martial law and general mobilisation in Ukraine for 90 days until February 14, 2024. Ukrainian politician, Yaroslav Zheleznyak announced this decision on November 8 via telegram. "Parliament approved the laws (#10211 and 10212) on Decrees on the continuation of martial law and general mobilisation. For - 329 and 322. From November 16, 2023, the effect of martial law and mobilisation was extended for 90 days, “he wrote.

Ban on fireworks

The Ukrainian parliament has banned the use and sale of pyrotechnics in the country. The bill that forbids the use of fireworks and pyrotechnic devices with loud sound effects was passed in April, local media Ekspres reports. Zoya Vovk, head of the communications department of the Cherkasy Regional State Administration of Ukraine is quoted by Ekspres saying “In the conditions of a full-scale war, when the country wakes up after another night of shelling, it's definitely not the time to set off fireworks and salutes.”

$11.8 billion from the US

The US administration has urged its Congress to back Ukraine with $11.8 billion in direct financial support. This has been outlined in the presidential request and is currently being reviewed by Congress, local media Ukrayina Moloda reports. The US Department of the Treasury in an official message stated, "Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and USAID Administrator Samantha Power sent a letter to Congress urging them to approve the Biden administration's request to provide $11.8 billion in direct budget support to Ukraine as part of the president's supplemental package to meet national security needs."