Key facts
- Cabinet decision
- On June 4, 2026, the Cabinet of Ministers formalized Protocol No. 68 for joint state control measures in passenger road transport.
- Chernihiv region
- 386 patrol police reports, 403 National Police reports, 321 Ukrtransbezpeka acts; illegal operations shut down on four routes.
- Khmelnytskyi region
- 727 vehicles inspected, 207 acts, 23 rulings totaling 374.51 thousand UAH; all Article 164 filings dismissed in court.
- Zakarpattia region
- 35 Ukrtransbezpeka reports, 22 National Police reports; courts imposed penalties in 8 of 15 cases.
- Sumy region
- Fines totaling 455.6 thousand UAH imposed in June and early July; three carriers without permits on irregular routes.
- Zaporizhzhia proposal
- Suggested liability for digital platform owners selling tickets for illegal trips.
Background
Illegal passenger transportation in Ukraine has persisted for years, with minibuses picking up passengers near train stations, markets, metro stations, hospitals, and roadsides. These operations often lack proper permits, official routes, vehicle inspections, registered drivers, tax payments, and clear liability in accidents, according to Ukrainian MP Volodymyr Kreidenko, deputy chairman of the Committee on Transport and Infrastructure.
Legal carriers, who undergo competitive bidding, obtain permits, pay taxes, maintain vehicles, and adhere to schedules, face unfair competition from those who ignore the rules. Kreidenko raised the issue during Question Time to the Government, asking when the fight against illegal transportation would become systemic state policy.
On June 4, 2026, the Cabinet of Ministers formalized Protocol No. 68, deciding to carry out joint state control measures in the field of passenger road transport. Following this, Kreidenko submitted official parliamentary inquiries to regions to understand the situation on the ground.
Current situation
Regional responses revealed the problem's extensive scale. In Chernihiv region, patrol police drew up 386 reports totaling 142.12 thousand UAH, National Police issued 403 reports totaling 212.77 thousand UAH, and Ukrtransbezpeka issued 321 field violation acts amounting to over 4.59 million UAH. Authorities shut down illegal carrier operations on the Chernihiv–Ripky, Chernihiv–Horodnya, Chernihiv–Novhorod-Siverskyi, and Chernihiv–Koriukivka routes.
In Kirovohrad region, joint operations resulted in 10 administrative reports under Article 164 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses (totaling 170 thousand UAH) and 49 acts under Article 60 of the Law of Ukraine 'On Motor Transport' (totaling 833 thousand UAH). Three additional cases were submitted to court. Problematic routes identified include Holovanivsk–Odesa, Haivoron–Kyiv, Zhovti Vody–Kyiv, and Kryvyi Rih–Kyiv.
Khmelnytskyi region inspected 727 vehicles in the first half of 2026, resulting in 207 acts. Nine involved transportation without proper permits. Twenty-three rulings were issued against illegal carriers, totaling 374.51 thousand UAH. However, all administrative filings under Article 164 were dismissed during court proceedings, and no one was held administratively liable—highlighting a key enforcement gap.
| Region | Reports/Acts | Fines (UAH) | Cases in court | Penalties imposed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chernihiv | 1,110 | 4,945,890 | Not specified | Not specified |
| Kirovohrad | 59 | 1,003,000 | 3 | Not specified |
| Khmelnytskyi | 207 | 374,510 | Not specified | 0 |
| Zakarpattia | 57 | Not specified | 15 | 8 |
| Sumy | Not specified | 455,600 | Not specified | Not specified |
Impacts
The crackdown has tangible effects on illegal carriers and passengers. In Zakarpattia region, Ukrtransbezpeka issued 35 reports and the National Police issued 22 since the beginning of 2026. Courts examined 15 cases and imposed administrative penalties in eight. Patrol police issued 745 violation records. Control operations took place near bus stations in Khust, Uzhhorod, Mukachevo, Vynohradiv, and Berehove.
In Sumy region, six compliance checks were conducted, one carrier was brought to justice for operating without state business registration, and three carriers were identified operating without permits on irregular routes and four on urban and suburban routes. Ukrtransbezpeka imposed fines totaling 455.6 thousand UAH in June and early July. Zaporizhzhia region identified four carriers operating without permits across five joint operations and issued eight acts.
Cherkasy region conducted three joint operations as of July 6, identifying two illegal carriers and two reports under Part 1 of Article 164, sent to court. Problem locations include near the 'Zoopark' bus stop, the Cherkasy AS-1 bus station, and the 'Vokzaly' stop. These efforts aim to protect passengers and level the playing field for legal carriers.
Future outlook
Scenario analysis: The possibilities below are not certain predictions.
Kreidenko argues that the next step must be systemic structural reform, not another temporary raid campaign. He calls for a unified reporting format for regions, clear metrics, and legal definitions of 'illegal carrier' and 'illegal transportation' to differentiate penalties between legal and illegal market players.
If Parliament adopts these legislative solutions, repeat and systematic illegal operations could face sanctions that genuinely halt business activity, and online platforms selling tickets without verifying carrier documentation could be subject to dedicated regulatory oversight. Automated data exchange between transport authorities, police, tax services, public registries, and courts may help the state catch up to the digital shadow market.
However, if courts continue to dismiss cases and penalties remain absorbable as business costs, illegal carriers may persist. The effectiveness of the reform will depend on whether enforcement follows every case from a stopped vehicle to real punishment, ensuring passengers know who is responsible for their safety and legal businesses are not at a competitive disadvantage.
Source: interfax.com.ua
