KHARKIV, Aug. 26 – Some 9 million more households could receive subsidies in the new heating season, Social Policy Minister Andriy Reva said.

"Now we anticipate up to 9 million more out of 15 million existing households due to the rise of tariffs," Reva said at a briefing.

He recalled that as of May 1, 2016 6 million households received subsidies.

Reva said that the 2016 budget envisages UAH 40 billion for benefits and subsidies, while the state would have had to give UAH 170 billion to Naftogaz Ukrainy to retain the tariffs.