Panic on the Internet due to new reconstruction fees

Deputy Minister of Community and Territorial Development Alyona Shkrum explained that her statements regarding the “reconstruction tax” were misunderstood.

She emphasized that this is not about introducing new taxes, but about finding mechanisms to finance the country’s post-war reconstruction. According to her, the Ministry of Development is working on establishing a Reconstruction Fund to accumulate funds for infrastructure restoration, starting with laying the groundwork and defining its rules of operation.

Shkrum noted that financing is already necessary because international financial institutions can be slow in the loan application process, and that the loan will need to be repaid. She also cited examples of other countries, such as Japan, where special taxes were introduced after natural disasters, but emphasized that Ukraine does not need such solutions.

The Deputy Minister assured that the ministry does not plan to introduce a “reconstruction tax”, as this is a misinterpretation of the situation. The primary focus is currently on grant and concessional financing while Ukraine awaits reparations from Russia.

The head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Danylo Hetmantsev, also confirmed that no new taxes are being considered for the reconstruction. The funds should come from de-shadowing the economy, international aid, investments, and reparations.