--- title: "366.6 million UAH: How much Kyiv spent on preferential transport fares in the first half of 2026" description: "💰 Kyiv spent 366.6 million UAH on preferential transport fares in the first half of 2026. Metro — 33.2 million trips, ground transport — 73.4 million. 457 thousand unique users. Against the backdrop of rising fares, limits for pensioners are being discussed. #Kyiv #Transport #Benefits" date: 2026-08-09T05:10:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/kyiv-preferential-transport-366-mln-uah-first-half-2026 tags: [kiev, public-transport, social-benefits, budget-spending, metro, kievtrans] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # 366.6 million UAH: How much Kyiv spent on preferential transport fares in the first half of 2026 ![Passengers in Kyiv Metro: illustration for the article on city spending on discounted travel in 2026](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/09/kiev-lgotnyj-proezd-366-mln-grn-polugodie-2026/kiev-lgotnyj-proezd-366-mln-grn-polugodie-2026-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - In the first half of 2026, Kyiv spent 366.6 million UAH on compensating for preferential transport fares. - The metro transported 33.2 million beneficiaries, while ground transport transported 73.4 million. - There were 457,250 unique users of preferential transport fares. - The introduction of a limit on free travel for pensioners is being discussed to reduce the burden on the budget. The first six months of 2026 became a period of high strain on budgetary compensation mechanisms for Kyiv's transport system. According to official data from the Department of Transport Infrastructure of the Kyiv City State Administration (KCSA), city authorities allocated more than 366 million UAH to reimburse carriers. These funds were paid out for free and partially paid travel for preferential categories of citizens in the metro and ground transport. ### Expenditure structure: Metro vs. Ground Transport Statistical analysis shows an uneven distribution of passenger flow between transport modes. From January to June 2026, 33.2 million passengers entitled to benefits used the services of the Kyiv Metro. The city allocated 179.8 million UAH to compensate for these trips. This accounts for approximately 49% of the total compensation payments for the half-year. At the same time, the municipal enterprise "Kyivpavtrans," which operates ground transport, carried significantly more beneficiaries — 73.4 million people. However, the financial burden on this segment turned out to be comparable: compensation payments amounted to 186.8 million UAH. Thus, despite the passenger flow in ground transport being more than double that of the metro, the cost of compensating for a single trip there is lower than in the metro. ### Who uses benefits: Unique users and frequency of trips It is important to note the difference between the total number of trips and the number of unique users. According to the Department of Social and Veteran Policy, 457,250 people used the right to preferential travel. This means that, on average, one beneficiary made more than 230 trips over six months, or about 4 trips per week. The high frequency of using preferential travel indicates that for a significant part of the population, this is the main mode of transport in the city. ### Contradictory data In the context of the growing burden on the budget, the question of the expediency of the current system arises. On the one hand, authorities emphasize that payments are made in strict accordance with the established procedure and are aimed at supporting socially vulnerable layers of the population. On the other hand, there is a growing public discussion about the need to limit benefits. In particular, a petition was registered in Kyiv calling for the introduction of a limit on free travel for pensioners. Initiators propose this as a way to reduce the burden on the transport system and indirectly reduce fares for other passengers. Furthermore, there is a discrepancy in the perception of the "fairness" of fund distribution. Some experts point out that the compensation for a metro trip is higher than for a bus, which may stimulate the choice of a more expensive mode of transport even when alternatives exist. Others believe that the metro is a more efficient and eco-friendly mode of transport, and its support is justified. ### Context of fare increases and future challenges The growth in compensation payments is taking place against the backdrop of a general increase in the cost of travel. From July 15, 2026, the cost of a single ticket in municipal transport rose to 30 UAH, and marshrutkas announced a fare increase to 25 UAH. This creates additional pressure on the budget, as the difference between the fare for regular passengers and the zero fare for beneficiaries increases. Authorities have not yet announced changes in the compensation system, but the question of reviewing support mechanisms remains open. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Preferential transport fares: who can use them in Kyiv](https://zn.ua/UKRAINE/lhotnyj-proezd-v-transporte-kto-im-mozhet-vospolzovatsja-v-kieve.html) - Подтверждает категории льготников и общие принципы системы. - [Preferential transport in the capital: what is happening with financing](https://delo.ua/ru/news/lgotnyi-proezd-v-stolice-cto-proisxodit-s-finansirovaniem-466008/) - Подтверждает суммы компенсаций и структуру расходов. - [Preferential transport for schoolchildren: 75% discount will be in effect in Kyiv in summer](https://delo.ua/ru/news/lgotnyi-proezd-dlya-skolnikov-v-kieve-skidka-75-budet-deistvovat-letom-468053/) - Подтверждает суммы компенсаций и структуру расходов. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: How much money did Kyiv spend on preferential transport fares in the first half of 2026? **A:** 366.6 million UAH. ### Q: How many preferential trips were made in the metro and ground transport? **A:** In the metro — 33.2 million, in ground transport — 73.4 million. ### Q: How many unique users used preferential transport fares? **A:** 457,250 people. ### Q: Is the restriction of preferential transport fares planned? **A:** A petition calling for the introduction of a limit on free travel for pensioners has been registered in Kyiv, but a decision has not yet been made.