In February 2025, a new tool for supporting IDPs will be launched – a housing rental subsidy, and in the Reserve+ application it will be possible to apply for an electronic referral for undergoing a VVK.
By February 4, citizens recognized as partially fit for service must undergo a repeat medical examination, although this period may be extended for another three months.
Mobile operator Lifecell raises tariffs for its services, and Ukrzaliznytsia — cost of train tickets to Poland and Hungary.
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Read about these and other important changes that await Ukrainians from February 1, 2025 in the ICTV Fakty material.
- Utility rates from February 1
- Will there be an increase in pensions
- Subsidies from February 1
- IDP payments in February 2025
- Return to service after the SZCh before 1 March
- VVK for those of limited fitness for service
- Electronic referral to VVK in the Reserve+
- Limits on transfers between cards: changes from February 1
- Confirmation of the status of critical enterprises
- 1000 UAH Zelensky: application submission ends in February
- Increase in Lifecell tariffs
- Increase in the price of train tickets to Poland and Hungary
Utility tariffs from February 1
No increase in utility tariffs is expected in February and in general until the end of the heating season.
That is, household consumers will pay for electricity 4.32 UAH/kW∙h. And owners of dual-zone meters, as before, will be able to save from 23:00 to 7:00. The night tariff is twice as low — 2.16 UAH/kW∙h.
In addition, from October 1 to April 30, a special tariff is valid for those who use electric heating — 2.64 UAH/kW∙h,however, only if the consumption is up to 2,000 kWh per month. Any excess will be charged at the full rate.
The cost of gas and heating is also unchanged. Most Ukrainians will pay UAH 7.96 per cubic meter. This applies to Naftogaz customers (98% of all consumers). The annual offers of other suppliers will range from UAH 7.79 to UAH 9.99 per cubic meter.
Water supply rates vary in the regions; they can be revised in small towns by decision of local authorities. The National Commission on Energy and Public Utilities (NKREKU) is responsible for increasing the cost of this service in large cities. There are currently no plans to change water prices.
Will there be an increase in pensions
Here, too, no changes are planned, and in March there will be an automatic indexation of pensions, which will increase payments by 10-17%.
At the same time, in February, pensioners who have reached a certain age will receive additional payments:
- 300 UAH — if 70 years old;
- 456 UAH — upon reaching 75 years of age;
- 570 UAH — from 80 years.
Subsidies from February 1
In January, the government announced a number of important changes in the provision of housing subsidies. In particular, during 2025, housing and communal services benefits for all recipients will be provided using a single approach — taking into account the average monthly total family income.
If a family applied for a subsidy from January 1, its eligibility for the benefit, taking into account the total income, will be determined from that date.
If the family received benefits up to and including December 31, 2024, the changes regarding the assignment of assistance for payment of housing and communal services will be applied after the end of the current heating season.
Important! This rule does not apply to participants in hostilities and persons with disabilities as a result of the war, that is, the approaches for them do not change.
Payments to IDPs in February 2025
In February, internally displaced persons will continue to receive payments for living:
- persons with disabilities and children — 3 thousand UAH;
- all others — 2 thousand UAH.
They will also receive a new type of assistance this month — a housing rental subsidy. The application process began on January 29.
Who among the IDPs is eligible for a housing rental subsidy:
- those who left the regions occupied by the Russian Federation or from combat zones and do not have their own housing in relatively safe regions of Ukraine, and their housing has been destroyed or is unfit for habitation;
- want to rent individual housing, but do not have enough money to do so;
- rent housing and spend a significant part of their income on it.
Conditions for providing such a subsidy:
- the tenant and the landlord cannot be relatives;
- the tenant does not receive from state assistance for IDPs' accommodation;
- the landlord of the housing no longer receives compensation for it under the Prihistok program.
An IDP family can simultaneously receive both a rent subsidy and a housing and utilities subsidy.
Its size will be affected by the income level, the number of family members and the cost of renting housing in the region.
Such a subsidy will be assigned only if there is a lease agreement.
A subsidy for housing rental can be issued at the PFU service center, as well as online through the Pension Fund's electronic services portal.
Return to service after SVCh before March 1
Until the end of February 2025, military personnel who left their unit (SVCh) without permission for the first time have the opportunity to return to service without criminal liability.
Relevant amendments to the Law on Military Duty and Military Service regarding the specifics of taking citizens of Ukraine into military registration of conscripts and their medical examination during The Verkhovna Rada adopted the decision to complete their basic combined arms training, and President Volodymyr Zelensky signed it on January 15.
Previously, this deadline was until January 1, but it was extended so that the military would have more time to return.
Back in December, a service was launched in the Army+ app in which Ukrainian servicemen can report their intention to return to service after the SZCh or transfer to another unit.
At the same time, the Ministry of Defense explained that the simplified system of returning to service does not apply to those who left the unit after November 29, 2024.
For such persons the following is provided:
- obtaining written consent from the commander of the military unit or reserve battalion;
- opening criminal proceedings;
- further court decision on possible release from criminal liability.
Only after the court decision can the serviceman begin the procedure for reinstatement in service.
VVK for those with limited fitness for service
Citizens recognized as having limited fitness for military service before May 4, 2024, must undergo a repeat medical examination before February 4, 2025.
For failure to comply with the rule on timely passing of the VVK, a fine may be imposed in the amount of 1 thousand to 1.5 thousand non-taxable minimum incomes of citizens or from 17 thousand to 25.5 thousand UAH.
At the same time, the Deputy Head of the Office of the President Iryna Vereshchuk recently announced the need to extend the period for passing the VVK for military personnel who were previously recognized as partially fit, by at least three months, since more than 1 million people have not yet undergone such an examination and this cannot be done within the specified period.
According to her, this requires legislative changes, which are currently being worked out. Work is also continuing on regulatory changes to avoid fines.
Electronic referral to the Military Medical Commission in the Reserve+
The government supported the introduction of electronic referrals to the military medical commission (MMC) in the Reserve+ mobile application, making corresponding changes to the procedure for conscription for military service upon mobilization, approved by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 560 of May 16, 2024.
Now you don't have to stand in lines at the TCC for a paper referral, you just need to submit a request for an electronic referral to the Reserve+, receive a notification with the necessary information on your smartphone and immediately arrive at the specified healthcare institution.
The first to do this will be those liable for military service who want to undergo the VVK on their own, and later this function will also become available to people who received a paper summons to undergo a medical examination.
The launch of electronic referrals to the VVK in the Reserve+ application will start on January 31, that is, in February this service will already be fully operational.
Limits on transfers between cards: changes from February 1
In February, the largest Ukrainian banks will introduce limits on transfers between cards of clients who do not have documented income. Such restrictions apply to all types of transfers, including IBAN.
In particular, for clients classified as high risk, as of February 1, a monthly limit on transfers of UAH 50,000 is set.
For clients with medium and low risk levels who also do not have confirmed income, the limits will be reduced in two stages:
- from February 1 — in the amount of up to UAH 150 thousand per month;
- from June 1 — in the amount of up to 100 thousand UAH per month.
Confirmation of the status of critically important enterprises
All critically important enterprises must confirm their status by February 28, in accordance with the changes made by the government to Resolution No. 76 on the procedure for reserving from mobilization.
However, the algorithm has not changed — the enterprise applies to the relevant ministry or regional administration to obtain such status.
Eight criteria for determining an enterprise as critically important also remain in force. And for private enterprises, an additional mandatory criterion is established: the average salary for the last calendar quarter should not be less than 2.5 minimum wages (UAH 20,000 as of November 15, 2024). That is, the employee who is being reserved must receive at least UAH 20,000.
The enterprise must also not have any tax debts.
In addition, from January 22 to March 1, enterprises with the updated status of critically important can re-book employees through the Diia portal in real time.
If the manager wants to rebook employees before the end of February, it is necessary to confirm the criticality according to the updated criteria, cancel the previous booking and submit an application (then you do not need to wait 72 hours).
1000 UAH Zelensky: the submission of applications ends in February
Anyone else planning to apply for UAH 1,000 under the Winter ePidtrimka program must do so by February 28 through the Diia app, Ukrposhta, or partner banks.
The funds received can be used, in particular, for medical services, utility bills, and donations to the Armed Forces of Ukraine until the end of 2025.
Every Ukrainian, regardless of age, who is on the territory of Ukraine (with the exception of temporarily occupied territories) has the right to a one-time payment.
Increase in Lifecell tariffs
Mobile operator Lifecell will gradually increase tariffs on its services.
The innovations affect both the terms of tariffs for four weeks and daily service packages.
At the same time, in the period from February 17 to March 20, some tariff plans of the mobile operator will be closed altogether. More details — in the material on Fakty ICTV.
Increasing prices for train tickets to Poland and Hungary
Ukrzaliznytsia is increasing the price of tickets for international trains to Poland and Hungary from February 1 by reducing the discount.
In the direction of Poland, the price of tickets will increase in 1st class Intercity+ and SV carriages by 20-27%, in compartments by by 9-27%.
Fares on the most popular international trains will also increase:
- Kyiv — Warsaw (by 37%);
- Kyiv — Budapest (by 17% in SV carriages and by 21% in compartments).
UZ noted that previously, in order to popularize international connections, it was possible to agree on special discounts with the railways of neighboring countries, however, due to the rise in prices for consumables and energy resources, they are forced to gradually revise the size of these discounts.
