Odessa Secures State Loan for Critical City Needs
Odessa has secured a state loan to meet pressing city needs. Since 2023, the city budget has lost over 3.9 billion hryvnias, which have been redirected to the national budget. Community expenditures have risen by 29%, while revenues have only increased by 14%.
In wartime, the city budget allocates significant resources for recovery efforts, shelter arrangements, social support for residents, and assistance to military personnel and internally displaced persons.
These expenses are mandatory and continue to grow each year. To prevent a collapse in other sectors, the city council made the decision to borrow locally.
The Ministry of Finance approved this plan, and this year Odessa will receive a loan of 623.4 million UAH from the state bank.
This funding will be directed to 70 urgent projects, including:
- «Healthcare» – 186.9 million UAH (modern equipment for hospitals, repairs of engineering networks in the infectious disease hospital);
- «Education» – 81.7 million UAH (shelter arrangements, modernization of protective structures, fire safety measures);
- «Road Management» – 125 million UAH (repairing streets, stops, and key overpasses);
- «Housing and Utilities» – 220.7 million UAH (capital repairs of stormwater collectors, coastal protection works, updating drainage systems and elevators. Additionally – 110 million UAH for connecting cogeneration machines to ensure energy resilience of critical infrastructure);
- «Civil Protection» – 9 million UAH (purchase of special equipment for rescuers).
This is not development «for the future», but addressing urgent issues that are necessary for ensuring normal life in Odessa during wartime: from heat and water in homes to accessible healthcare, safe schools, and readiness for emergencies.
