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The European Business Association calls on Members of Parliament to support the provisions of Draft Law No. 13439-3, which envisage increasing the size of the State Budget Reserve Fund. Additional funds, by decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, may be directed to urgent measures to overcome military aggression \u2013 in particular, to restore transport connections after enemy attacks, which are currently intensifying, and to ensure the uninterrupted operation and liquidity of the Ukrainian railway operator.<\/p>\n
In the near future, the Verkhovna Rada is expected to consider, in the second reading, Draft Law No. 13439-3 of 14 July 2025 On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine \u201cOn the State Budget of Ukraine for 2025\u201d regarding financial support for the security and defence sector and addressing urgent issues. Among other provisions, it contains measures to increase the Reserve Fund in light of growing threats to the country\u2019s critical infrastructure.<\/p>\n
Such a decision would enable the Government to allocate resources to urgent needs in sectors essential for the functioning of the Ukrainian economy. In particular, it would allow for financial support of at least UAH 8 billion for JSC Ukrzaliznytsia, which, despite severe enemy shelling, ensures the uninterrupted operation of the railway transport system to meet the needs of the military, the economy, and the civilian population.<\/p>\n
In 2025, Ukrzaliznytsia\u2019s losses from passenger transportation are expected to reach UAH 22 billion, as passenger tariffs remain fixed for the duration of martial law while operating costs continue to grow. In previous years, these losses were covered through cross-subsidisation from freight transportation revenues. Funds that should have been invested in infrastructure development and improvement of logistics services were instead used to offset passenger segment losses. However, with a significant decline in freight volumes due to occupation and the destruction of industry, the sources for such cross-subsidisation have been exhausted.<\/p>\n
Freight owners can no longer bear the additional burden, and their competitiveness has critically declined, particularly as many enterprises are struggling due to the full-scale war. Moreover, the business community considers such a practice economically unjustified and inconsistent with European principles of transport financing.<\/p>\n