Ukraine in Motion: Inclusive Paths Ahead

Despite the challenges of war and damaged infrastructure, Ukraine's passenger transport system remains vital in 2025. The system includes road, rail, air, water, and pipeline transport. As of 2022, the total length of roads was 169,700 km, and the length of railways was 21,700 km, making it the fourth longest railway among European Union countries. In 2024, despite active military operations, 2,176.2 million passengers were transported in Ukraine, which is a 6.8% increase from 2023. Of those passengers, 55% were transported by urban electric transport. However, the use of trolleybuses and trams is declining in favour of road transport. This is logical given the security risks; in the context of air attacks, road transport is easier because it does not stop, allowing people to continue their way to shelter. Rail transport remains essential for intercity and international travel since airspace has been closed since 2022. International train travel from Ukraine offers a safer, more convenient, inclusive, and eco-friendly option for families, including those with young children or low-mobility groups, compared to buses or private cars. Unlike buses, which often face long border queues-sometimes exceeding 12 hours due to Ukraine's vast borders-trains offer predictable schedules and customs checks onboard, minimizing delays. Additionally, trains emit significantly less CO2 per passenger (e.g., 28g/km vs. 104g/km for cars), making them a greener choice for eco-conscious families travelling across Ukraine's expansive geography.

The war in Ukraine has increased the need for inclusive transport due to the growing number of veterans with disabilities, estimated at over 100,000 in 2024. A significant percentage of Ukraine's population is older with reduced mobility (approximately 20% of Ukrainians are 60+ years old, or about 7 million people). This creates an urgent need for barrier-free access to transport, complicated by damaged infrastructure. To address these issues and harmonise its transport construction system standards with the European Accessibility Act, Ukraine launched the "Without Barriers" initiative, spearheaded by First Lady Olena Zelenska. The initiative promotes comprehensive accessibility and creates equal opportunities for travelling.

To effectively implement all barrier-free projects in Ukraine, the Barrier-Free Council was created. This advisory body assists the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine in coordinating and promoting barrier-free policies, particularly ensuring equal access to services, infrastructure, and opportunities for people with disabilities, veterans, older persons, and other groups with limited mobility. To date, the Barrier-Free Council has approved 30 legislative changes, including the establishment of driving schools for people with disabilities and the implementation of new building codes. All initiatives are implemented with the support of local businesses and external donors. The Barrier-Free Movement project, for example, includes low-floor trams and buses in 12 Ukrainian cities and is partly funded by the EU through the United Nations Development Program. The European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) also supports initiatives to modernise transport hubs and create barrier-free routes. At the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London in 2023, agreements worth €800 million were signed to mobilize private investment, some of which relate to inclusive infrastructure.

As part of this initiative, Ukrainian Railways has increased the number of trains with carriages equipped for people with disabilities, as trains provide stable, spacious environments with amenities like wider aisles, accessible cabins, and toilets designed for people with disabilities. These carriages have ramps, wider doors, special fastenings for wheelchairs, and adapted toilets. Tactile navigation, call buttons for passengers with reduced mobility, special toilets, and parking spaces have been installed at key railway stations in Ukraine's cities with populations over one million, such as Kyiv, Lviv, and Odesa. An interactive map of station accessibility is available on the Ukrzaliznytsia website, aligning with the initiative's goals of digitalisation and transparency. In 2025, National Barrier-Free Week took place at railway stations in Uzhhorod and Mukachevo. Training sessions were held for Ukrainian railway staff on interacting with people with disabilities. There were also demonstrations of inclusive carriages and testing of barrier-free routes at railway stations. These efforts are important not only for creating physical access but also for providing emotional comfort to veterans and those affected by the war, whom we treat with great respect. Notably, passenger rail transport in Ukraine is owned and operated by a single company, JSC Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia), whose sole shareholder is the state.

As for local public transport in Dnipro, the first inclusive tram route with tactile navigation and adapted stops has launched to ensure accessibility for people in wheelchairs. According to Ukraine's Ministry of Development of Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure, the accessibility of public transport stops in ten regions was monitored in 2024. The results revealed that only 15% of stops comply with state building standards. However, the ministry plans to increase this figure to 25% through reconstruction in 2025. In Kyiv, 50 pedestrian crossings with lowered curbs were installed in 2024, and 30 more are planned for 2025. The Uklon taxi-service launched an "Inclusive" class in Kyiv, with 5% of its fleet (approximately 200 cars) adapted for passengers with disabilities. The company plans to expand to Lviv and Odesa in 2025.

Civil society organisations play a key role in promoting accessibility. For instance, Dostupno.UA, a Ukrainian NGO, monitored 200 bus stops in Kyiv, Lviv, and Dnipro in 2024. They found that 70% of the stops had high curbs. This prompted local authorities to allocate UAH 10 million in 2025 to lower the curbs. Another organisation, Fight for Right, collaborated with local administrations to provide recommendations on designing low-floor buses and trams. This led to the purchase of 20 new vehicles in Dnipro. The Active Rehabilitation Group public organisation tested transport routes for veterans in five cities with 150 participants. This helped identify 30 problematic stops included in the 2025 reconstruction plan. These initiatives reinforce government efforts by pressuring authorities to implement changes more quickly. Barrier-free transport, such as low-floor buses and trams as part of the "Barrier-Free Movement" project in 12 cities, allows veterans to move freely, visit rehabilitation centres, and participate in public life. For instance, an inclusive tram route in Dnipro served 5,000 passengers with disabilities in 2025, 30% of whom were veterans. This contributes to their economic activity. According to Fight for Right, 40% of disabled veterans are willing to work if accessible transport is available. The "Without Barriers initiative as discussed earlier, supports such changes, particularly by establishing driving schools for people with disabilities. These schools opened in 2025 and help veterans acquire new skills. The absence of barriers in transport, such as accessible stops, reduces feelings of isolation and enables social inclusion. According to the Active Rehabilitation Group, 60% of veterans who tested barrier-free routes reported improved psychological health due to the ability to move around independently.

Other steps to enhance inclusiveness in Ukraine include expanding low-floor transport options, providing staff training, developing digital applications with accessible route information, monitoring compliance with building codes, and collaborating with civil society organizations. Ukrainians believe that post-war reconstruction with European support, particularly the involvement of experts, will lead to barrier-free transport. However, this requires coordination and control.

In general, the topic of inclusivity is very timely in Ukraine. For us, it is not only about wanting to participate in best practices, but also about transitioning from a Soviet mindset that ignored people with reduced mobility to a people-centered approach full of mutual respect that involves people with special needs in creating spaces that are convenient for them. These are places where they can choose their own routes, transport mode, and travel comfortably.