The total amount of "National Cashback" payments is approximately ₴8 billion
In Ukraine, the "National Cashback" program has already become a widely used financial tool, with millions of people taking advantage of it every month. The total amount of payouts has reached nearly 8 billion hryvnias, and Ukrainians spend most of these funds on everyday necessities. Most often, these are groceries, utilities, and essential goods. This was reported by Oleksiy Sobolev, Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture, during the presentation of a study on the program’s perception and its impact on consumer behavior and business, commissioned by Mastercard.
According to the Ministry of Economy, up to 4.8 million Ukrainians use the cashback program every month. The program effectively encourages the purchase of Ukrainian-made goods, and a significant portion of users are low-income individuals who are price-sensitive.
Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture Oleksiy Sobolev noted that the results even exceeded initial expectations. “About 4.8 million Ukrainians use the ‘National Cashback’ program cards every month. By my estimates, it has worked even slightly better than we expected,” he said.
According to the study, 67% of Ukrainians already use cashback, and most of them are families with an income of up to 40,000 hryvnias per month. For 68%, the main motivation for participating was the opportunity to save money.
Ukrainians spend the majority of the funds returned through the program on basic expenses.
Food leads the way—86% of users buy it. Next come medicines (39%), household chemicals (28%), home goods (27%), personal care products (19%), and clothing and footwear (13%). It is also noted that a significant portion of the money goes toward paying for utilities. It is estimated that Ukrainians use up to 70% of the cashback they receive specifically for these needs.
MasterCard representatives note that the program is already having a noticeable impact on citizens’ financial behavior. “70% of people spend money on utility bills. That’s a significant amount,” said Vadym Polishchuk, Vice President of Business Development for MasterCard Services in Ukraine and Moldova.
According to him, about 13% of all utility payments are actually made using cashback funds. Experts believe this supports the energy sector, which is vital to the economy.
About 2,000 Ukrainian manufacturers have already joined the program, registering over 421,000 products. Most companies view their participation in the program positively or neutrally and note an increase in demand.
Retail chains are reporting a 7–9% increase in sales of Ukrainian goods in certain segments. Businesses cite rising demand and interest from retailers as reasons for participating.
The Ministry of Economy states that it plans to continue improving the program. In particular, the possibility of extending cashback to bulk goods is being considered. At the same time, the government has already extended the fuel cost reimbursement program until May 31, 2026, allowing it to maintain its impact on the consumer market.
New rules for assistance to internally displaced persons in 2026.
The deadline for internally displaced persons to submit documents for living assistance has been extended by another month. Applications for payments can now be submitted until June 1, 2026.
