Ukrainians will pay for Zelensky’s “free” kilometers

Source: Author’s Facebook page

My emotions, even after the adoption of the shameful 2026 budget, which I had to fight for and spend a lot of effort to correct, DO NOT SHAKE.

The text of the PCMU dated December 2, 2025 No. 1555 regarding free “3,000 kilometers across Ukraine” has been published on the government portal.

What is provided:

1) When and how does the program work?

The initiative is implemented from the date of entry into force of the resolution until December 23, 2026 in two stages:
• the first stage – trips to destinations determined by Ukrzaliznytsia, in particular from stations in combat or temporarily occupied territories;
• the second stage is expanding the list of destinations.

2) At what cost?

Not from the budget. Financing is provided by additional revenues of Ukrzaliznytsia from:
• increase in tariffs for domestic and international transportation;
• expansion of seasonal and daily coefficients;
• liberalization of “brand” coefficients;
• dynamic pricing (the closer the travel date and the higher the occupancy, the more expensive it is);
• changes in ticket refund rules;
• introduction of new services.

That is, free tickets are at the expense of paid tickets of other passengers.

3) What did the government order?

By the first quarter of 2026, the Ministry of Regional Development, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Economy must develop an act on the launch of a pilot project for state orders for passenger transportation, in particular:
compensation from budgets for the difference between the economically justified tariff and the tariffs for passengers.

That is, a formal mechanism for subsidies to UZ through state orders is planned.

What do we really have?

There is no money in the budget for this “Ukrzaliznytsia initiative”.

In UZ:
• UAH 7.19 billion in net losses of UZ for 9 months of 2025;
• loss of 49% of freight traffic;
• in 2025, the government ALREADY ALLOCATED UAH 13 billion from the reserve fund to support UZ;
• in 2026, the company needs another UAH 16 billion in compensation.

Actually:

Paid tickets will become more expensive – so that someone gets “3,000 km for free.” And then the state will compensate for the difference in fares from the budget – again with our taxes.

So:
We have another “banquet during the plague” – when a PR initiative is covered up with beautiful wording, but its real cost for payers and budgets is hidden.

Also follow “Pryamim” on Facebook , Twitter , Telegram , and Instagram .

• Materials published in the “OPINIONS” section reflect the opinion of the author of the publication, who bears full responsibility for the accuracy of the information.
• The editorial staff of prm.ua may not share the opinions expressed in the author’s material.
• The owner of the webpage in the “OPINIONS” section is the author of the publication.