Increasing freight tariffs by 45% at once, as proposed by Ukrzaliznytsia, is a risk of production reduction, loss of billions of revenues and devaluation of the hryvnia, so the key task now is to stabilize the financial condition of Ukrzaliznytsia without causing a blow to the national economy. The General Director of the Federation of Transport Employers of Ukraine (FRTU) Vladimir Gusak wrote about this in a column for the Center for Transport Strategies.

“When I received information about Ukrzaliznytsia’s plans to immediately increase freight tariffs by 45% from August 1, 2026, to be honest, I was surprised. Today, Ukrainian business operates in war conditions: expensive and scarce electricity, complex logistics, shortage of workers, constant risks for production and exports. And it is at this moment that businesses are offered another large-scale financial burden,” he noted..

Husak recalled that freight transportation by Ukrzaliznytsia remains profitable: in recent years (2023, 2024. ) this segment generated about UAH 20 billion in operating profit annually. Therefore, the problem is not in freight tariffs, but in the chronic growing losses of the passenger segment, which in 2026 will reach 26 billion hryvnia.

" And today it is necessary to stabilize the financial condition of Ukrzaliznytsia without causing a blow to the national economy, because raising tariffs by 45% is not just a number. For many enterprises and the state, this means a reduction in production or even the risk of a complete stoppage of work, a loss of competitiveness, a decrease in exports, a loss of tens of billions of tax revenues and a devaluation of the hryvnia,” the FRTU General Director emphasized.

He noted that rail transportation volumes have already fallen by almost 50% compared to the pre-war period. And if we continue to increase the burden on business, then Ukraine may lose another part of its industry, foreign exchange earnings and taxes, and UZ will lose its already low cargo base.

" But it must be achieved not at the expense of the economy, which today actually holds the country. That is why the Federation of Transport Employers of Ukraine has already addressed the Cabinet of Ministers and the relevant ministry with proposals for alternative solutions that will stabilize the financial condition of Ukrzaliznytsia without affecting the industry and economy of the country. Today, Ukraine needs solutions that support production and exports, and do not create new risks for the economy during the war,” concluded Vladimir Husak.

Earlier, Ukrzaliznytsia proposed to increase freight tariffs by more than 40% in 2026 in two stages. The company also asked the state for budget support due to billions of dollars in losses..

Let us remind you that Ukrzaliznytsia ended the year 2024 with a loss of 4.2 billion hryvnia, although its income increased by +11% and amounted to 102.9 billion hryvnia - the largest amount among transport companies in Ukraine.

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