Residents of Kyiv have appealed to the city authorities, urging them to implement free rides on the capital’s metro for the entire duration of martial law. The relevant electronic petition is already available on the official Kyiv City Council website.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Arguments in Favor of the Initiative
The initiators of the proposal are convinced that this step not only aligns with the principles of social justice but also has a strategic and economic basis in the context of a full-scale war. According to the petition signatories, funding for the municipal enterprise “Kyiv Metro” during martial law should be sourced from the city budget. It is proposed that future expenses be compensated through international aid.
Opportunities for Additional Funding
In particular, as emphasized by the authors of the initiative, targeted grants for supporting public transport can be obtained from organizations such as the European Investment Bank, the European Union, and the Ukraine Transport Support Fund (UTSF). This will not only ensure free rides but also prevent additional financial burdens on the local budget.
The introduction of free rides, according to Kyiv residents, will provide significant support to the most vulnerable segments of the population. Furthermore, this step will reduce costs associated with the maintenance and repair of turnstiles, validation systems, cash registers, and cash collection services. As evidenced by the experience of Kharkiv, such a model helps optimize metro operations under challenging conditions.
“As noted by the signatories of the document, the funding for the municipal enterprise ‘Kyiv Metro’ during martial law can be shifted to the city budget, with subsequent compensation sought through international funds. These could include targeted grants from the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Union, and the Ukraine Transport Support Fund (UTSF).”