In 2025, Ukraine allocated UAH 2.66 billion to manage the Exclusion Zone, including maintaining the decommissioned power units of the Chornobyl NPP in a safe condition, the Ukryttia facility (sarcophagus), handling radioactive waste, environmental measures, and other related expenses. This is 15% more compared to 2024 (UAH 2.31 billion). At the same time, in dollar terms, the increase was less pronounced (+11% to USD 63.8 million), which is explained by exchange rate fluctuations. The data were published on the Energy Map portal.
According to the revised plan, UAH 2.80 billion was allocated for 2025, of which UAH 2.66 billion was actually spent. Thus, the budget execution level was about 95%, which is a higher indicator than in 2024 (92%).
What was the expenses structure in 2025?
The largest share of expenditures – UAH 1.52 billion, or 57.1% – was allocated to maintaining the Chornobyl NPP power units, the Ukryttia facility (sarcophagus), and decommissioning activities in a safe condition. This category remains key, as it includes critically important work related to nuclear and radiation safety.
In February 2025, the Chornobyl NPP sarcophagus was damaged as a result of an attack by a russian strike drone, which affected the functionality of the protective structure. According to Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha, the cost of restoration may amount to around EUR 500 million.
UAH 0.53 billion, or 20.1% of total spending, was allocated to radioactive waste management, including the operation and development of the Vector facility (a state enterprise in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone responsible for processing, decontamination, and long-term disposal of radioactive waste). At the same time, this area remained underfunded relative to the plan (execution at about 80%).
Expenditures on maintaining an environmentally safe condition in the Exclusion Zone amounted to UAH 0.52 billion (19.7% of total spending). This was one of the areas where funding increased in 2025 compared to the previous year.
Other expenses, including management, radiological protection of the population, and preservation of ethnocultural heritage, totaled approximately UAH 0.09 billion (3.1%).
Expenditure dynamics since 2018
Among the key trends of 2025, it is worth highlighting:
- an increase in funding in the national currency to the highest level in recent years;
- a rise in the budget execution rate to 95%;
- the continued prioritization of expenditures on Chornobyl NPP facilities;
- underperformance in radioactive waste management;
- growth in environmental spending.
The calculations are based on data from budget programs 2408 and 2708 (State Agency of Ukraine for Exclusion Zone Management).
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