ROAD TRANSPORTATION, TRANSPORT SAFETY, CROSSING POINTS AND AVIATION
In 2025, in the field of road transportation, transport safety, and border infrastructure development, the team of the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development under the leadership of the Vice Prime Minister for the Reconstruction of Ukraine Oleksiy Kuleba focused on ensuring the stability of the transport system in wartime, digitalization and simplification of procedures, and further integration of Ukraine into the European transport space.
The aforementioned areas are coordinated by Deputy Minister Serhiy Derkach.
“Our focus is not on point fixes, but on restructuring the rules of the game: digital services instead of paper procedures, transparent requirements for business, safety and predictability for passengers and carriers. In 2026, we will scale these solutions, synchronizing Ukrainian transport with European standards and making the system resilient even in war conditions,” emphasized Serhiy Derkach.
We talk about key results in the relevant areas and plans for 2026.
International cargo transportation
During the year, the Ministry of Development and Trade ensured the stability of international cargo transportation and maintained access of Ukrainian carriers to key European markets.
In particular, in 2025:
• the visa-free regime for transport with the European Union and Norway was extended until March 2027;
• the visa-free regime for transport with Moldova was extended until the end of 2027;
• the liberalization of transportation with North Macedonia was continued;
• An Agreement on International Road Transport with Morocco was signed.
An important step in digitalization was the scaling of the eQueue system for trucks to all road checkpoints ) for all licensed freight vehicles weighing 3.5 tons or more.
Also in 2025:
• Agreements were reached on additional permits for freight transportation with Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Armenia;
• Permits for transportation from third countries were agreed with Bulgaria;
Full support was provided for the preparation of Ukrainian carriers for the transition to the electronic ECMT permit system: the regulatory procedure was updated, training and education for businesses were conducted.
In 2026, the Ministry of Development and Trade plans to:
• ensure compliance of Ukrainian carriers with EU standards and implement a roadmap for the further extension of visa-free travel with the EU;
• sign an Agreement on International Road Transport with Albania;
• introduce fair control over the activities of foreign carriers in Ukraine;
• launch a pilot project for the exchange of electronic permits with countries with which transportation is carried out on the basis of permits;
• start transportation from Morocco.
Automobile checkpoints
In 2025, the Ministry of Development and the Reconstruction Agency, with the support of international partners, continued the development of border infrastructure. Among the main results:
• the passenger checkpoint "Velyka Palad - Nagygodosh" with Hungary was opened;
• repairs of 10 checkpoints were completed, most of them on the border with Moldova;
• the movement of large buses at the checkpoint "Dyakivtsi" with Romania was opened for the tourist season;
• an Agreement was signed with Slovakia to expand the capabilities of the checkpoints "Uzhhorod" and "Maly Berezny".
Plans for 2026
Next year, it is planned to complete the reconstruction of a number of checkpoints: "Luzhanka - Beregshuran", "Uzhhorod - Vyshne-Nemetske", "Mohyliv-Podilskyi - Otach", "Reni - Giurgiulesti", "Porubne - Siret". There is also a major overhaul of the checkpoints: "Chop - Záhony", "Maly Berezny - Ublya", "Solotvyno - Sighetu Marmacii".
Among the important projects is the launch of the checkpoint "Bila Tserkva - Sighetu Marmacii".
There is also a plan to arrange service areas in front of the checkpoints "Yagodyn", "Rava-Ruska", "Krakivets", "Reni".
A separate focus is the signing of agreements on joint control with neighboring countries.
In addition, it is about amending the agreements with Romania and Hungary regarding new checkpoints - this will create the prerequisites for further expansion of the border infrastructure.
No less important is the launch of the e-Queues pilot project for passenger cars. Preparatory work is currently underway.
Transport safety
In 2025, key steps were taken to improve safety and transparency in transport, for example:
• the e-Inspector system for roadworthiness tests of the State Traffic Safety Administration was introduced, for this purpose an exhaustive list of questions for inspection was approved.
• the smart tachograph system was launched: 40 workshops, more than 100 certified craftsmen;
• the network of driver training centers according to EU standards was expanded (almost 30 training centers);
• in a year, preparations were mademore than 38 thousand professional drivers;
• mandatory video surveillance at OTK points has been introduced;
• requirements for comfort and accessibility of buses and their regular technical inspection have been increased
Next year, the team will focus on implementing professional standards for drivers and inspectors of OTK points, which will make it possible to increase the professional competence of OTK point personnel and road carriers.
Special attention will be paid to ensuring the certification of vehicles for perishable goods in Ukraine, as well as simplifying the transportation of dangerous goods.
An important part of the work will be the introduction of standards for admitting road carriers to the services market according to similar EU requirements, namely the principles of integrity, financial capacity and competence.
The training system for managers of transport companies will also be updated.
In the context of security and European integration, it is also planned to introduce uniform EU standards for the work and rest regime of drivers, both for international and domestic road transport.
To minimize corruption risks during the training of professional drivers, control will be introduced through photo and video recording of driver training in training centers.
In addition, it is planned to update technical regulations. In particular, the regulations on approving the design of vehicles, their parts and equipment.
Aviation and airports
The key priority of the aviation team during the closed airspace remains the preservation of the technical suitability of airports and air navigation infrastructure.
Thus, in 2025:
• the infrastructure of Boryspil and Lviv airports was maintained in proper condition;
• the stable operation of the air navigation system and SE Ukraerorukh was ensured with the support of Eurocontrol;
• the National Strategy for Civil Aviation Development until 2030 was prepared;
• a project to modernize Boryspil Airport with the participation of KOICA was launched;
• aviation sanctions against the Russian Federation were maintained within ICAO;
• access to work in the field of aviation security was simplified for persons with disabilities.
Next year, the Ministry of Development and Cooperation will focus on further maintaining the suitability of airport infrastructure, approving the Strategy for the Development of Civil Aviation and the Use of Airspace of Ukraine until 2030, and ensuring the European integration of the aviation sector to create a common aviation space with the EU in the future.
Professional training
Responding to the personnel crisis and the need to ensure the involvement of new personnel in the field of transport and logistics, the Ministry of Development and Cooperation initiated a number of projects. In particular, these are training programs for female bus and truck drivers, veterans and veterans in logistics. Thanks to retraining projects and support from international partners, over 300 Ukrainians have already found a new profession in the transport sector.