Validators are expected to appear in private marshrutkas in Kyiv no later than nine months after the martial law is lifted. There is currently no specific date, as the countdown will begin only after the law is repealed. This was reported by hromadske referencing the Department of Transport Infrastructure of the Kyiv City State Administration.
Currently, the capital's marshrut taxis are not connected to an automated payment accounting system. There is also no equipment in the salons that would allow payment by transport or bank card.
How Kyiv's Marshrutkas Are Preparing to Introduce Cashless Payments in 2026
The city authorities declare their intention to completely abandon cash in private public transport. However, the introduction of a unified system is still at the preparatory stage.
Private carriers are currently:
studying possible ways for cashless payments;
conducting negotiations with banks and financial institutions;
evaluating options for installing payment equipment;
preparing to connect marshrutkas to the city’s payment accounting system.
The Kyiv City State Administration did not clarify whether validators in private buses will accept the Kyiv transport card, bank cards, and smartphone payments. The cost of the equipment and sources of funding have not yet been announced.
When Will Validators Appear in Kyiv's Marshrutkas After the Lifting of Martial Law
The deadline for installing the equipment will be nine months from the day martial law is lifted. Therefore, it is not a fixed date, but rather a transitional period that will begin after the appropriate decision.
The payment issue in marshrutkas has drawn attention again after a protest that took place in Kyiv on August 11. Participants demanded to return the fare in public transport to 8 UAH per trip.
Among other demands was the regulation of the operation of private marshrut taxis. Protesters called for the installation of validators and ensured free travel for passengers who have legal privileges.
Currently, a cashless payment system is in effect in Kyiv's public transport. Meanwhile, in most private marshrutkas, passengers still pay cash directly to the driver.
It is worth recalling that on the night of August 5, Russia launched a massive strike on Ukraine, specifically targeting the capital region. As a result of the attacks in the Kyiv region, 14 people were killed, including eight passengers who were waiting for a train at the Kvitneva station in the Brovary district.