Ukrainians have accumulated 1.4 million debts since the beginning of the full-scale war

The Unified Debtor Registry grew by 1.4 million debts since the start of the full-scale war. To put it in perspective, in 2021 alone, the Registry added 1.5 million entries. The majority of the new debts — 1.2 million or 80% — appeared last year.

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Debts of Ukrainians

	January 2020	January 2021	January 2022	February 2022	February 2023	February 2024
Number of debts	3,884,332	5,103,269	6,582,297	7,439,875	7,742,270	8,917,149

What did Ukrainians owe during the full-scale war?

The number of debts for fines for administrative offenses and unpaid utility bills increased the most—by 38% and 30% respectively. For comparison, the number of debts for utilities almost doubled in 2021.

In terms of debts owed to the state, the amount barely changed: 1.95 million debts. In the first year of the major conflict, their number decreased by 300,000, but by 2023, it reached the previous level.

Debts for traffic fines increased by a quarter. It’s worth noting that the majority—about two-thirds of these debts—were added to the registry in 2022. However, in the category of “Money Collection,” debts decreased by 27.5%—in contrast to 2021 when the number of such debts almost doubled.

There’s been a 4.5% increase in debtors for alimony over two years. For comparison, their number increased by 4.7% in 2021.

It’s worth noting that since February 24, 2022, a new category called “Documents not falling under the mentioned categories” appeared in the registry. It may include debts from other sections.

In total, there are currently 8.91 million debts recorded in the Unified Debtor Registry. Since the start of the full-scale war, the list has increased by 1.4 million new debts.

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Top reasons for Ukrainians’ debts

Recovery of funds for the benefit of the state	1,951,383	21.9%
Traffic rules violations	1,758,330	19.7%
Mortgage or rent payments	1,605,125	18.0%
Recovery of funds	1,504,224	16.9%
Arrears for communal services	667,849	7.5%
Document not falling under the mentioned categories	606,956	6.8%
Collection of court fees	420,025	4.7%
Debts for alimony	203,678	2.3%
Others	199,579	2.2%

Context

Starting from February 2024, Ukrainians can once again have their utility services disconnected, their cards blocked, and penalties imposed for debts. By Resolution No. 1405, the Government lifted the moratorium on disconnecting communal services due to debts. This decision does not affect internally displaced persons (IDPs) or individuals residing in temporarily occupied territories or conflict zones.