Ukrzaliznytsia launches free trips: who will receive 3000 kilometers.

According to inkorr.com: From December 1, 2025, a pilot version of the "UZ-3000" program will start operating in Ukraine, allowing Ukrainians to travel for free by train for a distance of up to 3000 kilometers. This was announced by the Chairman of the Board of "Ukrzaliznytsia", Oleksandr Pertzovskyi, during a conversation with journalists from hromadske.The first to take advantage of this opportunity will be residents of frontline communities, and the full launch of the program is scheduled for January 2026. According to Pertzovskyi, the program will operate for four months: January, February, October, and November 2026, when the number of passengers traditionally decreases.

How the "UZ-3000" program will work

The "UZ-3000" program will allow each user to (or two in both directions). A ticket can only be booked for oneself or for a child, to avoid speculation.

Main conditions:

• the program will only be valid for off-peak trains and will not cover first-class, SV, or international routes;

• passenger identification will be conducted through "Diia" or online banking;

• the free kilometers can be obtained in the "Ukrzaliznytsia" app, where the system will adapt routes for travel;

• the ticket will be completely free, and the company plans to eliminate even minimal insurance fees of 1-2 hryvnias.

Who benefits from this

Pertzovskyi emphasized that the program will have a social and tourism impact - it will help vulnerable populations and support domestic tourism during the winter period. According to "Ukrzaliznytsia" estimates, over 6 million Ukrainians do not travel outside their region due to high ticket prices.

“We want people to travel. If you can't buy a ticket for Friday night, the system will show options for kilometers on a more convenient day. This way, we distribute the load and allow for more travel,” Pertzovskyi explained.

Ukrzaliznytsia estimates the potential losses from the implementation of the program at up to 400 million hryvnias, but the company plans to compensate for these costs through increased efficiency in passenger transport. The implementation of the program is part of the presidential package of "Winter Support".

It was previously reported that the cost of railway tickets in Ukraine will increase. Ukrzaliznytsia is preparing for price increases for first-class passengers on "Intercity" trains and SV carriages to boost its revenue.

The "UZ-3000" program will be an important step in supporting transformations in the country's transport sector, helping Ukrainians travel and opening new opportunities for domestic tourism. This will be particularly relevant in the context of rising ticket prices, as most residents strive to maintain the ability to travel without straining their budget.