In the capital of Ukraine will return the fare in public transport, said the mayor of Kyiv Vitaliy Klitschko.
“We are already switching to paid travel in public transport,” Klitschko said on the air of the National Telethon on Tuesday.
At the same time, the mayor of the city did not specify when exactly the paid travel would resume, but noted that the price for it remains the same (UAH 8).
Klitschko explained the restoration of paid travel in public transport by the need to replenish the city budget.
“We understand that we now have a large amount of energy resources that we need, and electricity, and wages for our utilities, employees, and I can honestly say that the city will not pull, because the budget must be replenished,” the mayor said.
As reported, since February 24, due to the martial law associated with the military aggression of the Russian Federation, public transport in the capital has been free of charge.
According to preliminary calculations, Kyiv city budget will lose one third of its revenues, i.e. more than UAH 20 billion, because of the Russian aggression, according to the press service of mayor of the Ukrainian capital Vitali Klitschko.
He noted that today it is impossible to calculate this amount accurately because the war is still going on. “It is not quite correct to make monthly calculations because the budget is envisaged for one year. In general for 2022 we, according to preliminary calculations, will receive a third of the budget shortfall. That is more than UAH 20 billion. But, I emphasize, that these are preliminary estimates,” Klitschko said on the air of radio NV.
The mayor noted that at present the city’s economy is slowly coming back to life, businesses are coming back to work. Also, the percentage of payment for utility services provided is growing in the capital.
“For example, 55% of Kyiv citizens paid for utilities for March. And I am very grateful to them for that since these funds were spent for the necessary materials. They were spent on salaries to employees of enterprises, who, often risking their lives, provide the city with all services,” said Klitschko.
11 modern passenger buses from Riga and humanitarian aid have arrived in Kyiv, Mayor of the Ukrainian capital Vitaliy Klitschko said.
“Friends! Today, our Latvian partners, a delegation from the Riga Mayor’s Office, donated 11 modern passenger buses to Kyiv as assistance. And also humanitarian aid,” the mayor of Kyiv wrote on his telegram channel on Saturday.
Klitschko thanked Vice Mayor of Riga Edwards Smiltens for his visit to personally convey this assistance. “For us, this is evidence of Latvia’s solidarity with Ukraine, its capital, with the Ukrainian people in our struggle for our independence and freedom,” he said.
Each bus has a print of a symbolic hugging mural created in Riga by a Latvian artist.
The city authorities of Riga are considering the possibility of transferring more than 30 buses to Kyiv.
Kyiv will leave tariffs for hot water at the level of the previous heating season until May 31, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
“Today, in the conditions of martial law, when people found themselves in a difficult financial situation, we made an important decision on the provision of public services in the capital. This decision will ensure the use of tariffs for hot water and heat energy for its preparation until May 31 at the level of the previous heating season. That is, we will extend these tariffs without raising them!” Klitschko said after a meeting of the city council on Friday.
The Kyiv mayor recalled that the city authorities managed to keep tariffs for heat and hot water in the 2021-2022 heating season – “despite a significant increase in the costs of producing these services.”
“So today, in difficult conditions for the state and people, the city continues to restrain tariffs. Further adjustment of the cost will depend on the price of gas, which will be set at the state level. Today, we are doing what we can and what depends on us,” he said.
Business is restoring work in Kyiv, more than 1,000 grocery stores, 35 markets, 450 cafes are already operating, said the mayor of the capital, Vitaliy Klitschko.
“Businesses, shops, markets operate in Kyiv. Today, there are almost 1,000 grocery stores in the city, more than 160 Kievkhleb points of sale, 35 markets, about 450 cafes. Beauty salons, service stations, clothing stores are resuming work. We are also holding ten mini-fairs to ensure access to food,” he said on the Rada TV channel on Wednesday.
The mayor recalled that the fee under contracts with restaurant sites and mobile trade was reduced to UAH 1, and share participation – by 50%.
Volodymyr Klitschko, as part of the Ukrainian delegation, left for Germany, where negotiations are planned on political and economic support for Ukraine, Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said.
“Vladimir went with a delegation from Ukraine to meetings in Germany. Meetings are planned with German politicians and officials for political support of Ukraine – economic, humanitarian and military assistance to our state,” Vitali Klitschko wrote on his Facebook page
The mayor of Kyiv stressed the importance of consolidating all efforts to support the country.
“Today it is very important to unite all forces – both in Ukraine and to consolidate the positions and actions of the partner countries of our state,” he said.
