---
title: "Ministry of Infrastructure: Ukrzaliznytsia Social Tariffs Locked, Free 'UZ 3000' Program Won't Return This Winter"
description: "The Ministry of Infrastructure confirmed that under martial law, Ukrzaliznytsia cannot raise social tariffs for platzkart and kupe tickets, and the 'UZ 3000' free ticket program will not be extended for the upcoming winter, shifting focus to transport safety."
date: 2026-11-04T08:39:43.478Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ministry-infrastructure-uz-tariffs-winter-uz-3000
tags: [ukrainian-railways, tariffs, uz-3000, infrastructure, martial-law, public-transport]
author: "Andrey Kosynko, Darya Fomina"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Ministry of Infrastructure: Ukrzaliznytsia Social Tariffs Locked, Free 'UZ 3000' Program Won't Return This Winter

![A woman in a white sweater sits by the window in a train carriage using her smartphone](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/04/ukrzaliznytsia-tarify-zima-2026-uz-3000/ukrzaliznytsia-tarify-zima-2026-uz-3000-1.webp)

## Key Points

- During martial law, Ukrzaliznytsia is prohibited from raising social tariffs for platzkart and kupe tickets
- The Ministry of Infrastructure is ready to consider justified proposals for indexing in long-distance and suburban segments
- The 'UZ 3000' free ticket program will not be extended for the upcoming winter; the priority is transport safety
- The 'UZ 3000' program attracted over 100k new users to the Ukrzaliznytsia mobile app last year

The Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine has clarified its position on Ukrzaliznytsia's tariff policy for the upcoming winter period. Deputy Minister Volodymyr Shemaiev, in an interview with Forbes Ukraine cited by RBC-Ukraine, confirmed that under martial law conditions, the company has no right to raise social passenger tariffs for platzkart and kupe (sleeper) carriage tickets. At the same time, the agency stated its readiness to consider justified proposals for price indexing in other transport segments. Meanwhile, the 'UZ 3000' free ticket program, implemented last year as part of a government citizen support package, will not be extended for the upcoming winter.

### Legal Ban on Social Tariff Growth

As Ukrzaliznytsia CEO Oleksandr Pertsovskyi previously explained, the current martial law imposes a direct restriction: the company is forbidden from raising social passenger tariffs, which include travel in platzkart and kupe carriages. This means that the majority of passengers using standard carriages will continue to pay previous prices. At the same time, in the first-class Intercity train segment and on international routes, tariffs have already been liberalized, and according to company management, these areas are profitable.

### Readiness for Indexing in Long-Distance and Suburban Segments

The Ministry of Infrastructure emphasizes that the agency is open to price adjustments if Ukrzaliznytsia provides appropriate calculations. 'We are ready to consider justified indexing proposals in long-distance travel so as not to overload either the state budget or freight forwarders. Customer service has objectively grown over these years, and the rolling stock has improved,' Shemaiev noted. In the suburban segment, according to the ministry, part of the trains are being replaced with regional ones to optimize costs, and local authorities have already agreed to moderate tariff indexing.

### 'UZ 3000': Results of Last Year and Decision Not to Extend

The 'UZ 3000' free travel program was launched last year as part of a government citizen support package. The 3,000 km volume symbolically corresponded to the length of the longest round-trip route in Ukraine — Zaporizhzhia-Uzhhorod. The initiative was designed to fill carriages during the off-season, stimulate domestic tourism, and support residents of frontline regions during peak periods. As a result of the program, Ukrzaliznytsia attracted more than 100,000 new users to the company's mobile application and eased peak transport periods.

### Financial Model and Priorities for Winter

The financing of 'UZ 3000' was carried out through revenues from premium segments — business class, first class, and international flights — as well as state compensation for the cost of transport. Despite the achieved results, there are no plans to resume the program for the upcoming winter period. 'For now, there are no plans to extend it, as this winter we are focusing on transport safety,' the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure emphasized. Thus, the priority for the coming months is ensuring the reliability and safety of railway communication rather than expanding social incentives for passengers.

The result of the Ministry of Infrastructure's position is a clear division: social tariffs are frozen by martial law, commercial and international directions continue to operate at market prices, and the suburban segment adapts through the replacement of some rolling stock and moderate indexing. The free winter program, which became a prominent element of last season, will not be repeated this year — the agency's resources and attention are directed toward transport safety under ongoing martial law conditions.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Будут ли бесплатные билеты на УЗ этой зимой и что с тарифами: позиция Мининфраструктуры](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/chi-budut-bezkoshtovni-kvitki-uz-tsieyi-zimi-1793781302.html) - Statement by Deputy Minister V. Shemaiev in an interview with Forbes Ukraine: ban on raising social tariffs, readiness for indexing in long-distance travel, non-extension of 'UZ 3000' for winter. All key facts of the article correspond to the source text.

## FAQ

### Can Ukrzaliznytsia raise prices for platzkart and kupe this winter?

No. During martial law, the company is forbidden from raising social passenger tariffs for travel in platzkart and kupe carriages.

### Will the 'UZ 3000' free ticket program be extended for the upcoming winter?

No. Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Volodymyr Shemaiev stated that there are no plans to extend the program, as the focus this season is shifted to transport safety.

### In which segments can Ukrzaliznytsia index tariffs?

The Ministry of Infrastructure is ready to consider justified indexing proposals in long-distance travel. In the first-class Intercity segment and international routes, tariffs are already liberalized. In the suburban segment, local authorities have agreed to moderate indexing.

### What is 'UZ 3000' and how was it funded?

This is a free travel program for 3,000 km (the length of the longest Zaporizhzhia–Uzhhorod round-trip route), implemented last year under a government support package. It was funded through revenues from premium segments and state compensation for transport costs.