We represent UBI initiatives in Ukraine and Russia. Our grassroots movement is affiliated with BIEN (Basic Income Earth Network). Nearly a decade ago, a group of concerned and proactive citizens came together, united by a shared concern for poverty and social vulnerability. In the 21st century, millions of people in both Ukraine and Russia continue to live in poverty. Our movement is not a political party, not a government body, and not a financial foundation. It is a living network of people who believe that every human being on this planet deserves financial security, dignity, and freedom.
Since 2019, we have independently funded small-scale pilot projects to test the concept of Universal Basic Income (UBI) in Ukraine and Russia. Our goal was to show, in practice, that even modest, regular, unconditional cash support can significantly improve people’s lives. In Ukraine, we launched pilot programs in the city of Pavlohrad and the village of Podolske. Ten randomly selected participants aged between 26 and 65 received $50 per month for three months. The payments came with no strings attached. Participants used the money as they saw fit and filled out regular surveys conducted by sociologists. The outcomes were clear: people used the funds to pay off utility debts, buy essential medication, or fulfill a long-held dream—like taking their child to the seaside. These were ordinary people, randomly chosen, who were suddenly able to feel a bit more secure and not have to ask for help.
In Russia, we ran a similar project involving pensioners, single mothers, and families with many children. Participants received between 6,500 and 11,000 rubles per month from March to July 2019. The Russian Academy of Sciences conducted sociological surveys, and the results were strikingly similar: participants experienced improvements in quality of life and reduced stress. The money was spent on healthcare, nutritious food, and children’s education.
Alongside these practical efforts, we have worked to remain part of the global conversation on UBI. Our representatives have taken part in numerous international conferences, both online and in person. We’ve attended Unconditional Basic Income Europe (UBIE) gatherings in Gothenburg, the BIEN Congress in Tampere, the Asia-Pacific UBI conference in Hyderabad, and many others.
Since 2022, the situation in Ukraine and Russia has changed dramatically. We have spoken out against the war. Many of our members were forced to flee—from the violence in Ukraine and from political persecution in Russia. The war continues to devastate millions of lives. Those who remain in Ukraine suffer from bombings, loss of loved ones, loss of income and shelter. In Russia, fear and repression have intensified. Impoverished people are being driven to fight for money. The war has further exposed the deepening inequality and social crises in both countries.
Now more than ever, UBI is urgently needed—as an antidote to war and upheaval, to inequality and poverty, to injustice and despair. The international community must take a more active role in promoting UBI in low-income and authoritarian countries. There is a growing need to consolidate global experiences, to develop a standardized, detailed methodology for UBI pilot projects, and to build an open-access library of implemented UBI pilots from around the world.
More information: ubiua.com and ubiru.org, or on Facebook (UBI Ukraine and UBI Russia). We welcome your interest, your questions, and any form of support.
