The draft national budget of Ukraine for 2016 includes UAH 43 billion in subsidies to pay for housing and utilities services, Minister of Social Policy Pavlo Rozenko has said.

"Some UAH 43 billion [in subsidies] is foreseen for the following year against UAH 24 billion this year," he told reporters in Kyiv.

Rozenko said that if the number of those receiving subsidies is higher next year compared to the current projections, "the projections are likely to be changed and the figure will be increased."

He also said that at present, four million Ukrainian households receive subsidies and about 200,000 applications for subsidies are being considered by social services.

"We expect that when new bills come, which take into account new gas prices, that number will increase. But we are ready for this and all who come for subsidies will receive them on time and in full," Rosenko said.