Kyiv Taxi Prices Skyrocket During Air Raids, Drawing Public Ire

Taxi Pricing in Kyiv Under Fire

According to Главком: Actress and public activist Rymma Zyubina has strongly criticized the pricing policies of taxi services in Kyiv, highlighting the exorbitant surge in fares during air raid alerts and just before the nightly curfew begins. This issue is particularly acute for passengers trying to get home from the Left Bank district, as the metro system shuts down during these hours. The ongoing war has severely strained Kyiv's public transport infrastructure, making reliable and affordable mobility a critical daily concern for residents.

On January 26, during an air raid alert that lasted nearly 4.5 hours, the cost of taxi rides multiplied several times over. For instance, a trip from Shulyavka to Troyeshchyna cost a minimum of 1,529 hryvnias. Zyubina pointed out that prices remain high even without an active alert, stating:

“Even without an air raid, prices are like this from 10:00 PM. It's cheaper to buy a plane ticket! And this is no joke! Surely the Kyiv City Council knows about this, surely [Mayor Vitali] Klitschko knows?” - Rymma Zyubina

Official Response and New Initiatives

In response to the criticism, companies Bolt and Uklon have been granted permission to operate 24/7 in Kyiv. Furthermore, for Ukrzaliznytsia railway passengers arriving during the curfew, these taxi services are introducing a discounted fare. This measure aims to ease transportation for those facing mobility issues during the restricted hours.

Rymma Zyubina's critique reflects a broader problem of transport accessibility under wartime conditions, which becomes especially pressing under curfew restrictions. The authorities' reaction to these challenges, attempting to improve the situation for citizens, indicates a growing focus on urban mobility issues in the capital. The preferential tariffs for railway passengers could be a significant step toward ensuring greater transport accessibility in these critical circumstances.