MANIPULATION: Conditions for receiving “ePidtrymka” have changed — Ukrainians abroad must return the received funds

Users, citing a statement by Denys Shmyhal, are spreading information that Ukrainians abroad will have to return money received through the “Winter ePidtrymka” program. The post claims that allegedly the Ukrainian authorities initially promised that all Ukrainians, regardless of their location, could receive the funds. Later, they allegedly changed the program’s conditions.

However, this is manipulation. On October 25, during the program’s announcement, Zelenskyi stated that only people in Ukraine (excluding temporarily occupied territories) would be eligible for the funds. This information was later repeatedly published on government websites, and the program’s conditions have not been changed.

On December 2, Denys Shmyhal stated that the government plans to audit the provided aid. Ukrainians who received funds while being abroad will be required to return them. “The number of people who abuse this (applying for ePidtrymka from abroad — ed.) may be minimal. But we will audit these cases afterward, and such people, as has happened before, will return the money,” he said.

The official added that when applying for aid, people confirm their presence in Ukraine, and then verification is carried out through registries, geolocation, and other technical means. Shmyhal did not explain how the refund mechanism would work.

At the same time, it was clearly communicated in advance — before the launch of the program — that payments were only for people residing in Ukraine (excluding temporarily occupied territories). On October 25, 2024, Volodymyr Zelenskyi announced the program, stating: “I have instructed the government to launch a new program from December 1, one that will be tangible for every family in Ukraine. “ePidtrymka” for all our people — adults, children, every family in Ukraine.“

This condition is also outlined in the Cabinet of Ministers’ resolution from November 2024 and has not been changed since the program’s launch. The terms of the “ePidtrymka” program are also published on the websites of the Ministry of Economy and Diia: “A one-time payment of 1,000 UAH will be provided to all Ukrainians, including children, who are located on the territory of Ukraine (excluding temporarily occupied territories).”

Previously, we debunked a fake claiming that all Ukrainians could receive a 1,000 UAH payment through the “eThousand” program. In reality, scammers had created a fake website that mimicked official government resources.