Paw Badge Now Marks Pet Owners' Seats in Ukrzaliznytsia App

Paw Badge Added to Ukrzaliznytsia's App

According to Рубрика — Суспільство: Ukrzaliznytsia, Ukraine's national railway operator, has rolled out a new app feature for pet owners. When selecting tickets, passengers can now see a special paw-print marker next to seats taken by travelers with animals. The option was developed after customers called for better conditions for pet transport, but it is not available on every route yet.

The paw icon appears to other users during seat selection and checkout. To get the marker, a passenger must buy a pet transport voucher together with their ticket. The voucher is charged separately, at the same rate as 20 kg of luggage.

What to Know About Traveling With Pets

On board, passengers must show a veterinary document to the train attendant. Small cats, dogs, and birds must be kept in carriers with waterproof bottoms. Large dogs taller than 45 cm at the withers must wear a leash and muzzle. Anyone taking a pet into a sleeper compartment has to buy all the seats in that compartment. Guide dogs and service dogs accompanying military or law enforcement personnel can ride free, without requiring the whole compartment to be purchased.

A 2024 incident highlighted the issue: a soldier traveling with his service dog on an Intercity train from Kyiv to Chernihiv could not use his seat and had to stand in the vestibule. The backlash prompted Ukrzaliznytsia to announce that it would work with the UAnimals organization to draft new pet transportation rules. The company later moved forward with rule changes aimed at making rail travel more comfortable for people with pets.

The new app feature is therefore a meaningful step toward better pet-friendly rail travel, though more work remains to address ongoing issues and user requirements. It also reflects a broader shift: the railway is paying closer attention to the needs of passengers who travel with pets. For the function to reach its full potential, Ukrzaliznytsia still needs to make it work consistently across all routes and adjust the rules accordingly.