Ukrselsovet calls on the government to return a 30% discount on railway transportation of agricultural products from frontline areas

The All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council sent an appeal to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction – Minister for Communities and Territories Development Oleksiy Kuleba and Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Vitaliy Koval regarding the unlawful cancellation by JSC Ukrzaliznytsia of a 30% discount on the transportation of agricultural products from frontline areas to Ukrainian ports, the association's press service reports.

The appeal states that on March 20, 2025, Ukrzaliznytsia stopped providing discounts, citing the new order of the Ministry of Communities and Territories Development No. 376 of February 28, 2025, which approved an updated list of combat zones. At the same time, Ukrzaliznytsia believes that due to the cancellation of the previous order of the Ministry of Reintegration, the grounds for providing a preferential tariff have also lost their force.

However, this position of Ukrzaliznytsia is not legally justified, the business association noted. Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 129 of February 9, 2024 and Order No. 380-r of April 30, 2024, which prescribe compensation for the company's losses by providing discounts, remain valid. It was on their basis that Ukrzaliznytsia was allowed to retain part of the profit for 2023.

“Since none of the mentioned acts of the Cabinet of Ministers have lost their force, they are binding on all entities on the territory of Ukraine,” the council emphasized.

In addition, the said government documents do not contain references to the date of the order defining the list of combat zones, and their presence is impossible, since this order is constantly updated in connection with changes in the list of such zones.

“The said acts of the Cabinet of Ministers contain references only to the relevant list of territories and do not contain details of the specific procedure for determining such a list, in connection with which JSC Ukrzaliznytsia, when providing the relevant discount, must use the new order of the Ministry of Construction,” the association explains.

The Council believes that Ukrzaliznytsia's approach to applying the law is not only irresponsible towards farmers who operate in extremely difficult conditions and risk their lives by continuing to work, but also legally unfounded.