Some are volunteers, others start businesses, pay taxes and support the economy. In a matter of days, they close the million-dollar collection for our defenders, systematically donate drones to the army, or send 50 or 100 hryvnia for the needs of the army for morning coffee every day.

But war is a marathon that requires strength and preparation. The Verkhovna Rada has already approved the budget for next year. The absolute priority is the state’s defense capability (50% of the entire budget). In a country where war is raging, it cannot be otherwise. On the other hand, we seek and use all possible methods and means to further support the Armed Forces and accelerate the occupation of Ukrainian territory. That’s why military bonds were launched in Diya this week.

War bonds are securities issued by a government to support the economy in time of war. Basically, the state borrows money from its citizens for support for a certain period of time.

Military bonds have a long history as a financial instrument. They were used in the USA and England during the wars. To popularize bond buying, artists created propaganda posters, actors spoke at rallies, and Charlie Chaplin even made a movie at his own expense. And it worked. War bonds, II. During World War II, it was an effective tool to fund the needs of the army and support the economy.

History has decreed that our country also had to resort to this tool. The Ministry of Finance began selling military bonds in Ukraine on March 1, literally a week after the start of a full-scale war with Russia. Since then, Ukrainians have bought such bonds in the amount of 131 billion hryvnia.

You can now buy military bonds on Diya. Like any other service, it’s fast and in a few clicks. Symbolically, the bonds in Diya received the names of cities and regions currently temporarily occupied: Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Melitopol, Mariupol, Horlivka. These are our cities that will soon be liberated, thanks to the contribution of every Ukrainian, such as Port, Izyum and others.

More than 18 million Ukrainians now use Diya. And they have already purchased 45,000 military bonds through the app. The most popular are Donetsk, Kherson and Crimea.

However, bonds are not as popular in Ukraine at the moment as donations, for example. But we want Ukrainians to develop a culture of managing their own funds, to be able to use their wallets and financial instruments for state interests, especially by purchasing military bonds that finance military needs of the budget. A citizen immediately understands where and for what the money is directed. After all, in combat conditions, it is primarily the provision of the army – salaries for military personnel and medics, the purchase of weapons, body armor, ammunition, etc.

Financial support of the budget is especially needed when we see in full real time how the liberation of Ukrainian cities, towns and villages is progressing, how difficult but successful the Ukrainian offensive was. Our defenders need constant financial support. And military bonds are a targeted tool that only works for the military. You contribute, strengthen the army, rejoice in its success and hasten the victory.

Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov

* The author’s perspective may not coincide with the agency’s position.