From September 3, 2026, a temporary bus route No. 1M will begin operating in Kiev along the 'Sports Palace — Lesnaya Metro Station' direction. This is reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the Kyiv City State Administration, which published the decision on its Telegram channel. The launch of the line coincides with a sustained transport crisis in the capital, exacerbated by daily air-raid alerts and the restriction of the surface section of the metro.
Route Layout and Line Capacity
According to the Kyiv City State Administration (Kyiv City Council administration), route No. 1M will run along the surface section of the red metro line and provide additional connectivity between the right and left banks of the Dnipro. The route will pass through the city center, the Metro Bridge, and Bessarabska Street (Browarskyi Prospect). During peak hours, 12 buses are planned for the line, which should reduce the load on the remaining forms of surface transport and partially relieve the transfer hubs.
Context: Transport Crisis Due to Air-Raid Alerts
The city administration emphasizes that the launch of the bus is linked to continuous attacks by jet-powered drones: recently, about ten air-raid alerts have been declared daily in Kiev. Due to the threat of strikes, metro traffic on the red line is restricted — trains operate only between 'Akademmistechko' and 'Arsenalna' stations. As a result, a significant portion of passengers on the left bank is effectively deprived of their usual way to reach the right bank, which prompted the introduction of a temporary bus link.
Temporary Nature of the Measure and Alternatives
The Kyiv City State Administration stresses that route No. 1M is an exclusively temporary and supplementary service and does not constitute a full replacement for the surface section of the metro. Passengers are reminded that the Dnipro can be crossed from one bank to the other using other forms of surface transport that continue to operate. Thus, the new bus is viewed as a support measure rather than a final solution to the problem.
Systemic Solutions by the Cabinet of Ministers
It is worth noting that the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has already proposed several measures aimed at ensuring the city's functionality under conditions of constant alerts. The launch of bus No. 1M fits within this package of measures and is intended to support the mobility of the capital's residents until the normal operation of the surface metro section is restored. Authorities will provide additional information on the duration of its operation and any possible route adjustments.
