In Kharkiv, efforts will be made to maintain free public transport after the war

In Kharkiv, it is not ruled out that free public transport may remain even after the war ends. The final decision will depend on the city's budget, but the authorities consider this support necessary for the residents. This was stated by the city mayor Ihor Terekhov in an interview with Radio Free Europe.

Free transport in Kharkiv after the war will depend on the budget

The mayor emphasized that Kharkiv will try not to cancel the benefits for people who have experienced shelling, job loss, and forced relocations within the city. At the same time, he admitted that maintaining transport without payment is difficult due to rising costs.

«After the war, we will see how to ensure that for Kharkiv residents who have experienced the horrors of war, there is free transport. We will try,» Terekhov said.

According to him, energy carriers and transportation costs are increasing, but for many residents, even a regular fare can become a significant burden. The mayor cited the example of a person with an income of 3,500 hryvnias per month, for whom a fare of 30 hryvnias effectively limits the ability to move around the city.

What transport in Kharkiv currently operates for free

Currently, passengers do not pay for rides on all major types of public transport:

• metro;

• buses;

• trolleybuses;

• trams.

«Today we maintain free transport on the metro, buses, trolleybuses, and trams. Is it difficult? Yes, it is difficult, but it is necessary,» Terekhov noted.

Free transport in Kharkiv remains not only a social support measure but also part of the city’s everyday resilience. The metro, in particular, continues to serve as shelter during air alerts and Russian attacks.

Why Kharkiv does not plan to cancel benefits for passengers

The city authorities have raised the issue of fare costs previously. In May, Terekhov stated that they do not intend to abandon free transport for now, despite significant budget expenditures.

This is not about an already adopted decision for the post-war period, but about the intention to seek ways to maintain it. The city must assess its finances after the end of hostilities, the state of transportation infrastructure, and the needs of the residents of Kharkiv.

It should be noted that on July 17, a Russian drone attack on Kharkiv had significant consequences. As a result of the shelling in the Nemishlyansky district, a fire occurred in an economic building on the territory of a private household.