“The priority of spending in the Kharkiv region is spending on restoring the destroyed infrastructure and “challenges” from the military,” Oleh Syniehubov

On November 16, a briefing of the official media center of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration took place in Kharkiv Media Hub, during which the head of the KhOVA, Oleh Syniehubov, spoke about the operational situation in the Kharkiv region and budget expenditures for strengthening the region’s defense capabilities.

At the beginning of the event, Oleh Syniehubov talked about the budget processes of the region, spending priorities, and changes in the structure of filling the budget. The planned budget of the Kharkiv region for 2023 amounted to 8 billion 17.8 million UAH, general and special – 9 billion 113 million, of which 1 billion 262.6 million – almost 36% – expenses for the needs of the military.

“Currently, the priority of the region’s expenses is the expenses for the restoration of the destroyed infrastructure and “challenges” from the military. Thus, regional programs for the restoration, development, and support of life support systems in the region amount to 148 million 834 thousand UAH, and 405 million 568 thousand UAH have been allocated to the territorial defense program for 2022-2023. There is also a billion-dollar subvention for the construction of fortifications, at the expense of which we are strengthening the defense in the Kupyansk, Lyman, and Borova directions. Construction continues under shelling and it is very difficult to find contractors who are willing to work near the front line,” said Mr. Syniehubov.

The head of the KhOVA also said that the region needs 1,300 anti-radiation protective structures in educational institutions: schools, preschools, higher education institutions, and technical and vocational-technical education institutions. Currently, there are 125 such shelters, more than half of which require repair.

“It is impossible to use them to provide educational services,” Syniehubov noted.

At the same time, according to him, Kharkiv and the region are 100 percent equipped with shelters, in particular, the simplest ones, in case russian troops advance deep into the region and into the region of the regional center.

Oleh Syniehubov noted that every community should develop a project for a protective structure shortly.

“For example, in Korotych, they chose a place near the local school, where such a shelter is being built. It will be intended for an educational institution, but will also cover the local population since there is no specialized shelter in principle in this settlement. A similar building is being built in Lyubotyn, where there is a regional educational institution. Such projects cost from one to two million hryvnias, depending on many factors. Their construction is planned to be completed by March next year,” the official said.

He also stated that 18 projects of protective structures out of the required 118 have been developed this year.

During the briefing, Mr. Syniehubov also emphasized that mobile groups are being strengthened to fight against the attack UAVs: “Regional budget funds are spent on this – there are appropriate programs for this. We are also working with the IT cluster to develop a simulator for training the personnel of such mobile groups.”

At the end of the event, in a conversation with journalists, the head of the Kharkiv regional military administration assured that the sky over the Kharkiv region will be more protected from missile danger than last year.

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