Ukraine is running the state-backed eKнига (eBook) program, which allows young citizens who turn 18 to receive 998.40 hryvnias to purchase books in the Ukrainian language. The financial support is provided through the Diia digital service and aims to stimulate reading, support domestic publishers, and promote retail bookstores. According to RBC-Ukraine, citizens can apply for the funds within one year of their birthday, and the allocated amount must be spent within three months from the date it is credited to the account.
Program Mechanics and Disbursement Procedure
To participate in the eKнига program, users simply need to open the Diia app and submit an application via the installment option. Once approved, 998.40 hryvnias are credited to the user's account, to be used exclusively for buying books. There are no format restrictions: the funds can be spent on physical books, e-books, or audiobooks. Purchases can be made either offline at participating bookstores or online. It is crucial that the bookstore is officially listed as a program participant; otherwise, the payment will not go through.
Supporting Publishers Amid Wartime Challenges
The Ministry of Digital Transformation emphasizes that the eKнига initiative pursues both consumer and strategic goals—helping Ukrainian publishers and bookstores survive the consequences of military actions. Due to Russian shelling, publishing houses are losing printing equipment, and bookstores are losing retail spaces. Every book purchased through the program, according to Diia representatives, contributes to preserving the country's literary infrastructure and sustaining the operation of Ukrainian publishers throughout the conflict.
Restrictions and Spending Deadlines
A key condition of the program is its strict target designation: the 998.40 hryvnias can only be spent on buying books, excluding all other categories of goods. The validity period of the credited funds is three months from the day they arrive in the user's account. During this period, purchases must be made at one or several participating stores. If the funds are not spent within the allotted time, they expire, and no re-crediting is provided.
Context: Changes to the State Benefit System
The eKнига program operates against the backdrop of broader reforms in Ukraine's state payment system. In the autumn of 2026, the country revised the procedure for children's state benefits: support under programs such as eYasla, payments for children under one year old, the Baby Package, and the Schoolchild Package is now transferred to a special Diia.Card account titled "Care for a Child," which parents must open in advance. Additionally, according to RBC-Ukraine, the National Cashback program may be significantly revised in 2027: payouts are planned to be redirected to specific product categories facing strong competition from imported alternatives, and the program budget is slated for a 2.5-fold reduction, which is estimated to save up to 4 billion hryvnias annually.
Practical Recommendations
Citizens who turned 18 this year or last year are advised to check their Diia app for the application option and submit it within the permissible one-year window. Before making a purchase, buyers should verify whether a specific bookstore is an official eKнига participant to avoid payment failures. Given the three-month spending limit, it is best to prepare a list of desired books in advance and split the purchase between physical and digital formats to make the most of the allocated amount.
