Ukrainians will sharply cut subsidies amid colossal debts for heating and gas.

The government plans to reduce housing subsidy funding by 5 billion hryvnias by 2025 to account for rising utility tariffs, said expert Oleg Popenko.

The Ministry of Social Policy has already accounted for the reduction of subsidies in the budget, despite the growing debt of the population for utilities, Popenko noted.

'Amid this, we tell everyone who cannot pay the tariffs - we will provide subsidies. But at the same Time, the Ministry of Social Policy says - we have reduced the volume of subsidies by 5 billion. You will not receive subsidies,' the expert noted.

Popenko emphasized that the debts of Ukrainians for utilities have reached a critical level. The debt for heating is about 90 billion hryvnias, and for gas - over 60 billion.

Ukraine is required to raise tariffs to market levels according to the IMF's demands, even in wartime conditions. Popenko warns that this may lead to further increases in debts, as about 80% of the population can no longer afford to pay the existing tariffs.

According to the expert, in 2024, costs for utilities increased by more than 20% compared to 2023, despite a moratorium on tariff increases.

It was previously reported that some pensioners would be exempt from paying for utilities.