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2025: Resilient Transport in the Midst of Crisis

The year 2025 shows that Ukraine’s passenger transport system—including roads, railways, air, water, and pipelines—continues to operate despite dramatic circumstances. In 2022, Ukraine had 169,700 km of roads and a 21,700 km railway network, ranking it among Europe’s most extensive infrastructures. This alone makes transport a strategic resource, essential for the functioning of the country in wartime.

Data from 2024 indicate 2.176 billion passenger trips—a 6.8% increase from 2023. Notably, 55% of these journeys used urban electric transport, though trams and trolleybuses are gradually giving way to road-based transport. This shift is understandable in a security context: cars and buses can continue moving during air raid alerts, while rail services must stop.

Railways: The Backbone of Mobility

Rail transport remains the most reliable option for intercity and international travel. Since the closure of Ukrainian airspace in 2022, trains have connected the country with the world. Compared to buses, which can be stuck at borders for up to 12 hours, trains offer predictability, and onboard customs checks significantly reduce travel times.

Railways also have an environmental edge: CO₂ emissions average 28 g/km per passenger versus 104 g/km for cars. This advantage matters as Ukraine aligns its standards with the European Accessibility Act and EU climate regulations. A country rebuilding with green transformation in mind not only sends a symbolic message but may also unlock more EU financial support.

Veterans and the Elderly in Focus

A pressing challenge is accessibility for vulnerable groups. The war increased the number of veterans with disabilities to over 100,000 in 2024, while around 20% of Ukrainians are over 60—roughly 7 million people. The scale of needs is enormous, and damaged infrastructure complicates the task.

In response, the “Barrier-Free” initiative, supported by First Lady Olena Zelenska, aims to adapt transport for older adults, veterans, and people with disabilities. The Barrier-Free Council, an advisory body to the Cabinet of Ministers, has already approved 30 legal changes—from accessible driving schools to updated building regulations.

However, the challenge remains: can reforms keep pace with wartime realities? Implementing regulations in a country where new bus stops are destroyed by bombings requires flexibility and additional resources.

Partnership with Business and the EU

Modernizing transport is not only a state responsibility. The “Barrier-Free Movement” initiative, which includes low-floor trams and buses in 12 cities, is partially funded by the UN Development Programme and the EU. The European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) supports the reconstruction of barrier-free hubs and routes.

At the 2023 “Rebuilding Ukraine” conference in London, agreements worth €800 million were signed, including funds for inclusive transport. Yet external financing raises questions about investor readiness to support costly accessibility projects while basic infrastructure still needs reconstruction.

Ukrainian Railways as an Inclusion Laboratory

Ukrzaliznytsia, the state railway monopoly, increased the number of trains equipped for people with disabilities. Ramps, wider doors, wheelchair fixtures, and accessible toilets were introduced at major stations in Kyiv, Lviv, and Odesa.

Additionally, Ukrzaliznytsia launched an interactive map showing station accessibility. In 2025, Mukachevo and Uzhhorod hosted a National Barrier-Free Week, including staff training and inclusive route testing. These measures are both practical and symbolic, helping prevent the emotional exclusion of veterans and war-affected citizens.

Local Initiatives and Social Pressure

Local public transport accessibility remains low. In 2024, only 15% of stops met building standards, though authorities plan to raise this to 25% in 2025. Initiatives like Uklon’s “Inclusive” taxi service—200 adapted vehicles in Kyiv—show that the private sector can accelerate change.

Civil society also plays a critical role. In 2024, Dostupno.UA monitored 200 stops and found that 70% had high curbs, prompting authorities to allocate 10 million hryvnias for curb reductions in 2025. Organizations such as Fight for Right and Active Rehabilitation Group test transport routes for veterans. This creates a synergy where social pressure accelerates government projects, and grassroots actions identify real barriers.

Veterans and the Economy

Barrier-free transport is not just an equality or human rights issue—it is also an economic policy element. Fight for Right reports that 40% of veterans with disabilities would be willing to work if they had access to adapted transport.

In 2025, a special tram line in Dnipro served 5,000 passengers with disabilities, 30% of whom were veterans. Integrating these individuals into the labor market could catalyze postwar economic recovery. The question remains: can state and local authorities maintain the pace of inclusive transport investments to translate these promises into measurable employment outcomes?

A Mental Shift as the Foundation

Equally important as infrastructure is changing social attitudes. Ukraine aims to move away from the Soviet model of ignoring people with limited mobility. The new approach focuses on designing spaces “with and for people,” allowing everyone to choose routes, transport modes, and travel comfortably.

With EU and international support, postwar reconstruction could make Ukraine a laboratory for inclusive transformation. The crucial point is ensuring that accessibility promises do not remain merely on paper or in conferences but genuinely improve the daily lives of millions of citizens.

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