Public transportation fares in Kyiv may increase

Kyiv plans to review public transportation fares. The mayor of the capital announced this, noting that the relevant departments must prepare new calculations based on an economic analysis. If the decision is approved, the new fares could be introduced for both the metro and surface transportation.

Currently, the fare in Kyiv is 8 hryvnias, and when purchasing a 50-ride pass, it is 6.50 hryvnias per ride. 

This is one of the lowest fares in Ukraine, which has not changed since 2018, despite previous attempts to revise it.

During the full-scale war, the Kyiv City State Administration repeatedly stated that transportation fares would remain unchanged until the end of martial law. At the same time, city officials now acknowledge that these promises may be reconsidered.

The mayor of Kyiv explains that the initiative to revise fares comes from the labor unions of transport companies. The reasons cited include rising costs for fuel, electricity, logistics, and consumables.

City officials also emphasize the need to fund energy sustainability measures. According to the mayor, public transportation in the capital is subsidized and requires significant budget expenditures.

“In implementing the city’s energy sustainability measures, the Kyiv City Council will be forced to reallocate certain budget items. And our public transportation is subsidized (12 billion hryvnias this year, for example). Also, for many years now, the state has not been compensating the city, as it should, for free rides provided to eligible passengers. This money (hundreds of millions of hryvnias annually) also comes from Kyiv’s budget,” the mayor noted.

In addition, officials in the capital emphasize that some of the funds may be reallocated to preparations for the heating season and measures to ensure the city’s energy resilience.