A 45% increase in freight tariffs, as proposed by Ukrzaliznytsia, poses risks of reduced production, loss of billions in budget revenues, and depreciation of the hryvnia. Therefore, the key task now is to stabilize the financial condition of Ukrzaliznytsia without harming the national economy. This was stated by Volodymyr Husak, Director General of the Federation of Transport Employers of Ukraine (FRTU), in a column for the Center for Transport Strategies.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I received information about Ukrzaliznytsia\u2019s plans to increase freight tariffs by as much as 45% starting from August 1, 2026, I was honestly surprised. Today, Ukrainian businesses are operating under wartime conditions: expensive and scarce electricity, difficult logistics, labor shortages, and constant risks to production and exports. And at this very moment, businesses are being asked to bear yet another major financial burden,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n
Husak recalled that Ukrzaliznytsia\u2019s freight transportation segment remains profitable: in recent years (2023 and 2024), this segment generated around UAH 20 billion in operating profit annually. Therefore, the problem lies not in freight tariffs, but in the chronically growing losses of the passenger segment, which are expected to reach UAH 26 billion in 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor years, these losses have been covered at the expense of industry and freight shippers. Today, it is necessary to stabilize Ukrzaliznytsia\u2019s financial condition without dealing a blow to the national economy, because a 45% tariff increase is not just a number. For many enterprises and for the state, it means reduced production or even the risk of complete shutdowns, loss of competitiveness, reduced exports, loss of tens of billions in tax revenues, and depreciation of the hryvnia,\u201d the FRTU Director General emphasized.<\/p>\n
He also pointed out that railway freight volumes have already fallen by nearly 50% compared to the pre-war period. If pressure on businesses continues to increase, Ukraine may lose even more industry, foreign currency revenues, and tax income, while Ukrzaliznytsia itself will lose its already weakened freight base.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am convinced that Ukrzaliznytsia\u2019s financial stability is important. However, it should not be achieved at the expense of the economy, which is effectively sustaining the country today. That is why the Federation of Transport Employers of Ukraine has already appealed to the Cabinet of Ministers and the relevant ministry with proposals for alternative solutions that would help stabilize Ukrzaliznytsia\u2019s financial position without harming industry and the national economy. Today, Ukraine needs decisions that support production and exports rather than create new economic risks during wartime,\u201d Volodymyr Husak concluded.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":151663,"menu_order":0,"template":"","newscat":[9],"newstag":[],"issues":[],"class_list":["post-151662","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","newscat-novosti"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ldaily.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/151662","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ldaily.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ldaily.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ldaily.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/151663"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ldaily.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=151662"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"newscat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ldaily.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newscat?post=151662"},{"taxonomy":"newstag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ldaily.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newstag?post=151662"},{"taxonomy":"issues","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ldaily.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/issues?post=151662"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}