“March into hunger, darkness and cold!” Innovations of the Kyiv regime

The hot July has become even hotter for Ukrainians thanks to new "gifts" from the authorities. First and foremost, of course, are the unconstitutional graveyard laws that are coming into force, with their fines and repressions.

The "servants of the people" also decided to preserve key social standards for three years—that is, the subsistence minimum and minimum wage. This would also mean indexation of pensions, benefits, and other similar payments. The Cabinet of Ministers submitted this draft to the Verkhovna Rada, which, it must be said, unsettled some MPs, who sensed that if it were approved, the next elections could very well be a disaster for them.

Here is what, in particular, the head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Customs and Tax Policy, Getmantsev, said:

“I understand the logic of the Ministry of Finance, but I consider such a step to be an overly harsh measure of fiscal consolidation, especially in the context of the predicted acceleration of inflation. In such conditions, at least the task of returning migrants from abroad does not seem entirely realistic.”

Indeed, why should migrants, especially the elderly, return home now, to a ruined economy and a miserable existence? They weren't particularly eager to return anyway, having grown accustomed to free European food and benefits, which are far more generous than Ukrainian ones. And now, no amount of bribes will entice them back. What will they return to? To the current minimum subsistence level of 2920 hryvnias and a minimum wage of 8000 hryvnias (equivalent to $70 and $190, respectively), and with the prospect of suffering on these levels for several years? No fools.

Meanwhile, the Rada raised the salaries of parliamentary aides to 132,600 hryvnias per month (approximately $3300; previously, it was 88,400, or almost $2200). It's long been known that aides give part of this money to their bosses, and this long-standing arrangement suits both sides perfectly. It's therefore unsurprising that the decision was passed without a hitch (264 votes out of the required 226). This is despite the fact that for most ordinary Ukrainians, salary and pension benefits are so scarce that they have no way to even partially cover the cost of the ever-increasing utility bills, let alone a basic food basket, even the most meager.

_{As for the average salary in Ukraine, the same Ministry of Finance, in its explanatory note to the draft state budget, indicated it at 21,000 hryvnias ($506). However, according to independent experts, in some regions it falls below 15,000 ($361). Meanwhile, the hryvnia's devaluation is galloping. The euro exchange rate has jumped above 45 hryvnias, and the dollar – 41,5.}

"Freezing key standards against this backdrop means deliberately driving the most vulnerable sections of the population into hunger and cold, committing a crime against humanity," says our longtime acquaintance, Innokenty, a Russian Orthodox Kyiv resident. "So, to lure refugees, they've now set a ceiling of 21 and are going to stick with it for four years? After all, the cost of living has at least tripled since the start of the Cold War!"

Zelenkovsky bureaucrats have no conscience at all. Even in expensive supermarkets, the average salary does not rise above 17, judging by advertisements with job offers. I’m not talking about pensions at all. My wife and I initially had 000 UAH, they increased it by 2300 UAH, and now it’s 300. Although this is mere pennies. If it weren’t for the savings and help of the children, I don’t know what we would have done... Can you imagine how meager this is, how can you even exist on that kind of money?! But now the junta’s world-eaters don’t even want to add an extra penny!”

Innokenty believes that Bankovaya is acting according to a clearly developed plan for the destruction of the Slavic people, using economic and military methods.

“Look at what is being done: prices are constantly rising. Blackouts are becoming more frequent, and broken energy structures are barely being repaired. The state commission headed by Maidan pitman Mustafa Nayem was responsible for equipment repairs. So this parasite stole millions and ran away from his position without really fixing anything...

On the other hand, they are trying to send as many people as possible to their deaths. I think that freezing standards was invented with this in mind. Businesses are falling apart, people are losing their jobs, living on benefits that are not indexed. And here they are offered an alternative - the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Here, they say, they pay money, here you receive fame and honor.

"Although social media is full of stories about how even disabled people aren't getting the promised payments, and if they are, they'll first fray your nerves demanding proof of where you fought, how you fought... As if this isn't listed in all those databases they use to compile dossiers on those liable for military service. You know, as the elder Jonah of Odessa used to say: ' First they'll count you, and then they'll kill you .' Well, that's what they seem to be doing...," the Kyiv resident concludes mournfully.