Kyiv residents are complaining about being charged 38 UAH or more for a subway ride: an official explanation
After the fare increase on Kyiv’s public transit system, passengers began reporting unusual charges on their bank cards. Instead of the standard 30 hryvnias per metro ride, some people were charged 38 hryvnias, and in some cases, the amount reached 76 or even 90 hryvnias.
Social media users, particularly on Threads, are posting screenshots of bank notifications and describing various patterns of debits. In some cases, 38 hryvnias were deducted in a single payment, while in others the amount was split into two separate transactions: first, 30 hryvnias were deducted from the card, followed by an additional 8 hryvnias.
Threads users are posting screenshots of notifications from their banks. For some, 38 hryvnias were deducted in a single payment, while for others, the amount was split into two separate transactions: first 30 hryvnias, and then an additional 8 hryvnias.
How the “Kyiv Metro” and “Kyiv Digital” explain the debits
Utility services are reassuring the public: the system did not deduct any extra funds. The confusion arose due to the specifics of how bank acquiring works and outstanding balances from previous trips.
It turned out that some passengers still had an unpaid trip at the old rate (8 hryvnias) from before the fare change. When these passengers first passed through the turnstile after July 15, the payment system automatically “pulled up” this debt and combined it with the current trip. As a result, the passenger paid a total of 38 hryvnias: 8 hryvnias for the old trip and 30 hryvnias for the new one.
However, the financial surprises for subway passengers did not end there. Subsequently, new complaints began to appear online from Kyiv residents who were charged 76 and even 90 hryvnias for a single pass through the turnstile.
The team behind the “Kyiv Digital” app promises to investigate these instances of funds being deducted from the accounts of the capital’s metro passengers.
How much does a ride cost now?
A single ride on Kyiv’s public transit costs 30 hryvnias. At the same time, passengers who use a transit card can save money by purchasing ride packages.
Fare rates when reloading a transit card:
- 1–9 trips – 30 UAH per trip;
- 10–19 trips – 28.9 UAH;
- 20–29 trips – 26.8 UAH;
- 30–39 trips – 26.6 UAH;
- 40–49 trips – 25.5 UAH;
- 50 trips – 25 UAH per trip.
The maximum savings when purchasing a 50-trip package is 250 UAH.
What will happen to old tickets
Trips purchased at the old rate (8 UAH) can be used through September 14, 2026, inclusive. After September 15, unused trips will automatically be converted to their cash equivalent and credited to the “Wallet” on the transit card.
For example, if there are 10 trips remaining on the card, purchased at 6.5 UAH each, 65 UAH will be credited to the wallet, which can be used to purchase new trips. To do this, you must update the “Kyiv Digital” app to the latest version.
New Passes
The city has also updated the cost of monthly passes.
The following options are available:
48 trips – 1,088 UAH;
62 trips – 1,463 UAH;
92 trips – 2,156 UAH;
124 trips – 2,444 UAH;
unlimited monthly pass – 3,656 UAH.
Unlimited tourist passes are also being introduced:
24 hours – 375 UAH;
48 hours – 563 UAH;
72 hours – 750 UAH.
When will the transfer ticket go into effect?
Starting August 1, a transfer ticket will be available in Kyiv. For 60 UAH, passengers will be able to transfer between the metro and surface public transit an unlimited number of times within 90 minutes.
Who is eligible for discounts
The Kyiv City State Administration emphasizes that the fare increase does not eliminate discounted fares.
The following groups will continue to use public transportation for free or at a reduced rate:
- pensioners (with the “Kyiv Resident Card”);
- war veterans and combatants;
- people with disabilities;
- victims of the Chernobyl disaster;
- orphans and children deprived of parental care;
- members of large families;
- other categories specified by law.
- For college and high school students
- Students pay 50% of the cost of a monthly pass;
- schoolchildren ride for free during the school year;
- during summer vacation, schoolchildren pay only 25% of the fare.
The fine for riding without a ticket has also increased
Since the fine is 20 times the cost of a single trip, it increased to 600 UAH as of July 15.
Why Fares Have Increased
The Kyiv City State Administration explained that the need to revise fares is due to rising costs of maintaining the transportation system, as well as increases in the prices of electricity, fuel, spare parts, and wages.
According to city officials’ estimates, the economically justified fare is currently about 64.6 UAH for the metro and 44.1 UAH for surface transit; however, the city continues to cover a significant portion of the costs from the budget.
What Has Changed for Minibuses
Fares on private minibuses have also increased. Most operators have raised their fares to 25 UAH. They cite a shortage of drivers, rising costs of spare parts, fuel, and other transportation expenses as the reasons.
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