When will the electronic ticket appear in the transport of Kropyvnytskyi

In Kropyvnytskyi, as of the beginning of 2026, the electronic ticket system with the possibility of payment by bank card in public transport has not yet been implemented. Despite the decisions made at the local level, the city has not yet received the mandatory approval from the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine. This is stated by "Grechka".

The issue of cashless payment for travel in Kropyvnytskyi has been discussed for years. As early as 2025, the city remained virtually the only regional center without an electronic ticket. At that time, the transport department announced plans to launch the system within a year, but the tender was never held.

Electronic ticket in Kropyvnytskyi: what was planned

A draft decision on the implementation of an automated payment accounting system was prepared only in June 2025. The plan involved installing validators at every entrance to the transport and launching the so-called citizen card. The system was supposed to cover both the municipal enterprise Elektrotrans and private route transportation.

In December 2025, the executive committee of the Kropyvnytskyi City Council formally approved the decision on the electronic ticket. However, neither the operator selection competition nor the actual launch of the system took place.

AMCU approval for the electronic ticket: key remarks

In response to a request from the publication Grechka, the Antimonopoly Committee reported that during 2025, the city council submitted documents for approval twice. Both drafts were rejected due to competition risks and passenger rights.

The main problems pointed out by the committee included:

• the risk of monopolization of the system and transfer of control over data to one operator;

• lack of a bank card payment option in the projects, which contradicts state requirements;

• discriminatory conditions for potential operators, including the requirement to own the software;

• limitations on the rights of students and pupils due to travel limits;

• financial risks for passengers due to possible inclusion of benefits in the fare.

The AMCU emphasized that new technical standards will come into effect from 2026, which the city must also comply with.

It should be noted that from January 1, 2026, a decree from the Ministry of Communities and Territories Development comes into effect, which provides for the implementation of a unified ticket form for all types of transport.