Changes for Ukrainians in February: new limits on transfers, utility bills, prices, and booking regulations.
Transfer Limits
Starting from February 1, 2025, Ukrainian banks will implement transfer limits for transactions between individuals.
The memorandum "On Ensuring Transparency in the Operation of the Payment Services Market" foresees a limit of up to 150,000 hryvnias per month. However, this will only apply to clients who do not have documented proof of income. They will be categorized into risk groups:
- "high" risk level — limit of 50,000 hryvnias per month;
- "medium" and "low" risk levels — up to 150,000 hryvnias per month starting February 1, 2025, and from June 1 — up to 100,000 hryvnias.
To exceed the limit, clients will need to provide the bank with documents confirming their income.
These restrictions will not apply to volunteers, holders of salary cards, and other individuals with verified income, as well as transactions between two accounts of the same client opened at one bank.
Utility Tariffs in February
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal reported that electricity and heating tariffs will remain unchanged during the heating season of 2024-2025.
From February 1, Ukrainians will continue to be charged for electricity at a rate of 4.32 UAH/kWh. However, the conditions for subscribers who benefit from electricity subsidies for heating will change. Starting February 1, the subsidized tariff will have limits: if consumption exceeds 2,000 kWh, instead of the subsidized 2.64 UAH/kWh, the cost will be calculated at the full tariff.
The gas tariff for residential consumers who are clients of Naftogaz will remain at the previous level of 7.96 UAH per cubic meter. Prices from other suppliers may range from 7.79 UAH to 9.99 UAH per cubic meter.
Limited Fitness Must Undergo Repeat Medical Examination
Individuals classified as "limited fitness" under Law No. 3621-IX must undergo a repeat examination by the Military Medical Commission by February 4, inclusive.
A draft law was registered in the Verkhovna Rada on January 30, which proposes to extend the deadline for the repeat examination to June 5; however, it had not been passed at the time of publication. Iryna Vereshchuk, Deputy Head of the President's Office, stated that until the law is adopted, territorial centers for recruitment and social support will not impose penalties or declare "limited fitness" individuals wanted if they do not manage to undergo the repeat examination by February 5. Additionally, the draft law stipulates that the repeat examination will not be mandatory for citizens under 25 and for those with properly documented disabilities.
Worker Reservation from Mobilization
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, by resolution No. 76 dated January 27, 2023, approved changes to the procedure for reserving conscripts during mobilization and martial law. These changes stipulate that enterprises must confirm their "critical" status through "Diia" by February 28. After this, they will be required to either re-reserve their workers or lift all deferrals.
If an enterprise does not confirm its critical status within the specified timeframe, its employees may be mobilized into the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Payments to Families of Captured and Missing Soldiers
According to Lyudmyla Denisova, head of the Ukrainian Center for Human Rights Protection, Ukrainian servicemen will be able to write a personal directive starting February 1 in case they are captured or go missing. This way, the military can decide who will receive their financial support.
If no personal directive is available, 50% of the payments will remain in the serviceman's or servicewoman's account, while the remaining amount will be equally distributed to their spouse, legal representatives of underage children (if they do not receive alimony from the serviceman), children with disabilities regardless of age (if they do not receive alimony), and parents (if they have not been deprived of parental rights).
When the serviceman returns from captivity or is no longer considered missing, they will be able to withdraw the withheld amount from the account. In the event of the soldier's death, the unpaid financial support will be added to their inheritance.
Railway Ticket Prices Will Increase
Starting February 1, JSC "Ukrzaliznytsia" will raise ticket prices for certain trains. Prices for routes to Poland and Hungary will increase by an average of a quarter.
The ticket for one of the most popular routes, Kyiv-Warsaw, will rise by 37%. The compartment on the Kyiv-Budapest route will become more expensive by 21%, while the SV will increase by 17%. Overall, tickets to Poland will see price increases of 9-27% for compartments and 20-27% for "Intercity+" and SV.
Prices for routes to Austria and Moldova will remain unchanged.
The company explained that they are forced to raise prices due to the increase in the cost of consumables and energy resources, which resulted in losses of 18 billion UAH from passenger transportation last year.
Will Food Prices Rise in February?
Food prices are expected to rise (by 10-15%), especially for vegetables, bread, and dairy products.
Agricultural expert from the information-analytical center "AGRO PERSPECTIVE," Larysa Huk, reported on January 27 that at the beginning of 2025, food prices will increase for essential daily items. In particular, unpleasant surprises may come from the prices of sunflower oil, dairy products, buckwheat, potatoes, carrots, cabbage, and bread. Prices may rise by 10-15%, with some products seeing increases of up to 50%.
Chicken eggs are expected to decrease in price soon due to low demand and short shelf life.
Recall that on January 31, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine for Digital Development, Yekaterina Chernogorenko, announced the launch of electronic directives for the Military Medical Commission in the "Reserve+" application.
The National Bank of Ukraine, in its inflation report published on January 31, predicted whether utility services in Ukraine will rise in price in the coming years and assessed the likelihood of an early end to the war with Russia.