Pensioners in Lugansk are panic-stricken. The price of drugs has almost doubled. Some of them do not have enough money to buy even essential things. Journalists of "Sobytiya" find out, which medicines have significantly risen in price. 

The minimum pension is to increase by 13 per cent in December 2015, and should stand at UAH 1074, Head of the Pension Fund Oleksiy Zarudny said. The Cabinet has recently approved the budget of the Pension Fund. The deficit will be reportedly reduced if its proposal is backed up by MPs. According to this document, the Cabinet of Ministers recommended the parliament to cancel special pensions for working seniors. From now on, judges, prosecutors, members of the parliament and other civil servants will have to choose, whether they want to receive their salaries, or pensions. Other categories of working seniors will be able to receive 85 per cent of their pension in addition to the salary.

The only thing I do not have enough is crochet threads, the woman says.

Pensioners are to pay income tax from January, 2015. According to the law on the state budget for 2015, pensions are due to be taxed if they exceed 3 minimum wages (a minimum wage accounts for 1218 UAH). So, three minimum wages put together total 3654 UAH. This sum will serve as the starting point for income tax for individuals in the amount of 15 %.

Pensioners were waiting for and afraid of the January 2015. Government payments to families of deceased soldiers have increased twice, and a minimum living wage has gone up to 1074 UAH since the beginning of this year. From now on, pensions larger than 3.5 thousand UAH (instead of 10 thousand as it was before)  are subject to taxation. There are slightly over 9 thousand of such residents in Vinnytsa region.

Cherkasy pensioners have been knitting warm clothes - socks and mittens - for the front for three months in a row. They gather daily at a volunteer centre. Residents of the city bring there money, food, and warm clothes.  Volunteers dispatch packed goods to Ukrainian army positions.

An almost blind grandma who suffers from diabetes likes to swing in order to get her feeble legs relaxed.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine introduced many amendments to the Tax Code while approving the budget for 2015.  Among the introductions, there was a tax on pensions exceeding the threshold of UAH 3654. However, the entire pension is not subject to taxation, but only the amount that exceeds 3654 UAH. The tax rate is 15 %. However, such an introduction applies only to slightly more than 3 percent of the population.

Tsyurupyn pensioners have formed a patriotic song battalion. They come to see each other at get-togethers on weekends and knit warm clothes for soldiers to Ukrainian folk songs. They believe they both preserve traditions and help army in such a way.