Business asked to include subsidies for Ukrzaliznytsia in the budget
Photo: Ukrzaliznytsia

Business calls for inclusion of rail passenger transportation costs in the state budget for 2026. About said press service of the European Business Association.

Today, these losses Ukrzaliznytsia are covered by the cargo transportation – through cross-subsidization.

The business community considers this practice to be economically unjustified and inconsistent with European practices and negatively affects the development of the railway industry.

The problem of unprofitable passenger transportation has been critical for many years, the association's experts emphasize.

Thus, in 2024, UZ's losses from passenger transportation exceeded UAH 18 billion, and in 2025, despite the allocation of UAH 4.3 billion for compensation, it is projected will reach more than UAH 22 billion. At the same time, on average, revenues in the passenger segment cover only about 40% of expenses.

"Therefore, given the social importance of maintaining affordable transportation for the population and the negative economic impact of the current cross-subsidization approach, the association's member companies consider it appropriate to introduce subsidies for passenger transportation from the state budget," the statement said.

  • In 2024, Ukrzaliznytsia received loss of UAH 2.7 billion after UAH 5.04 billion of net profit in the previous year. In 2022, it was also unprofitable.