“LeoCard” vs. “Kharkivite Card”: How Gromada’s Investigation into Urban Transport Egoism Reached the Cabinet of Ministers…

Recently, “Gromada Group” literally blew up the information space with the article “Fare Prices: Why ‘Transport Communism’ and Targeted Support Hit People Equally Hard?”.

The material raised such a wave that those “at the top” simply could not close their eyes to it. The reaction was instant: Deputy Minister Serhiy Derkach brought our topic to the nationwide level right at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities.

The article discusses the resonant impact of an investigation by "Hromada Group" analyst Olena Zelenina regarding Ukraine's deeply flawed public transport subsidy system.

The original publication highlighted the clash between Kharkiv's financially draining "transport communism" (free rides for all) and Lviv's "municipal egoism" via the LeoCard system, which effectively stripped non-local IDPs and veterans of their legal transit benefits. Following the publication, the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine officially responded.

Deputy Minister Serhiy Derkach addressed the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, echoing Gromada’s expert warnings about the total lack of digital passenger tracking. To resolve this, the Ministry presented Draft Bill No. 5651-2, which aims to eliminate the chaotic paper-based system by introducing a unified national registry of beneficiaries, nationwide e-tickets/bank card validation, and automated state compensations to carriers per ride, with a transition period lasting until July 1, 2028.

Read more in the Ukrainian edition....