On 12 March, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted in the first reading the government’s draft law on amendments to certain laws of Ukraine to meet the needs of the population in transportation under martial law No. 12177-1.

MP Vitalii Bezgin announced this.

‘Another important decision for communities. We continue to comprehensively push the matter of using humanitarian vehicles for transportation. The draft law stipulates that during the martial law period and within 12 months from the date of its termination, utility companies – road carriers and utility companies – carriers of urban electric transport are the recipients of humanitarian aid to meet the needs of the population in transportation,’ the MP said.

MP Vitalii Bezgin also said that buses, electric buses, tramcars, trolleybuses, and subway cars are recognised as humanitarian aid.

The use of humanitarian aid by utility companies – road carriers and utility companies – carriers of urban electric transport, in the form of vehicles in the economic activity of passenger and baggage transportation is not considered to be intended for profit during the martial law and in the period of 12 months from the date of its termination or cancellation.

This draft law, along with others, should comprehensively resolve the issue of the use of vehicles transferred to communities as humanitarian aid.

As reported earlier, on 18 December 2024, the Law of Ukraine 3914-IX ‘On Amendments to Article 15 of the Law of Ukraine “On Humanitarian Aid” regarding the List of Recipients of Humanitarian Aid’ (Draft Law No. 11155-1) came into force, which, among other things, regulates the issues of receiving and using by utility companies vehicles and equipment donated by international partners as humanitarian aid.

Moreover, on 8 January 2025, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted in the first reading Draft Law No. 12250 on Amendments to Article 201-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine on Improving Liability for the Illegal Use of Humanitarian Aid by State and Utility Companies. The draft law stipulates that the use of humanitarian aid, charitable donations or free assistance by communities does not entail criminal liability.