“Zelensky’s Thousand” attempts to pump hard hit museums and gyms

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Nov. 15 that fully
vaccinated Ukrainians would receive UAH 1000 each through the government’s Diia
app. Those without smartphones would be able to receive the UAH 1000 via some
alternative means, he claimed, without clarifying how.

Zelensky’s statement has launched rounds of
explanations from the government.

Presidential spokesman Serhiy Nikiforov told
pravda.com.ua on Nov. 16 that the money is an indirect, large-scale business
support program to help certain hard-hit goods and services segments of the
economy, ranging from domestic transport to culture to fitness. “It’s not real
money; it can’t be spent on horilka and cigarettes.”

PM Denis Shmygal told reporters on Nov. 16 that the
payments would be funded by taxpayers. He also stated that it would operate in
2021 and in the first half of 2022.

James Hydzik: Zelensky’s
latest attempt to help the economy has not raised his rating, as the initial
announcement was unclear and sounded as if everyone fully vaccinated would
actually get UAH 1000 in legal tender. The clarification has been met with
references to Yuliya Tymoshenko’s promise as PM to pay UAH 1000 to every
depositor who had lost money in the collapse of the USSR’s State Savings Bank.
Tymoshenko’s effort was closed in 2008 when the global recession hit Ukraine.

The botched introduction is not going to help
Zelensky’s image further, and even if the project’s rollout goes smoothly, some
damage has already been done.