All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council demands restoration of discount on transportation of agricultural products from frontline areas to ports

The All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council demands the return of the 30% discount on the transportation of agricultural products from frontline territories.

This is stated in the statement of the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council.

The VAR appealed to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Minister of Community and Territorial Development Oleksiy Kuleba, and Minister of Agricultural Policy Vitaliy Koval regarding the unlawful cancellation by JSC Ukrzaliznytsia of the 30% discount on the transportation of agricultural products from frontline territories to Ukrainian ports.

The council emphasized that on March 20, 2025, Ukrzaliznytsia stopped providing the discount, referring to the new order of the Ministry of Development No. 376 dated February 28, 2025, which approved the 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 lost their validity.

However, as emphasized in the appeal, this position of Ukrzaliznytsia is legally unfounded. The Cabinet of Ministers Resolution of February 9, 2024 No. 129 and the Order of April 30, 2024 No. 380-r, which provide for compensation for the company’s losses through the provision of a discount, remain in force. It was on their basis that Ukrzaliznytsia was allowed to keep part of the profit for 2023.

“Since none of these acts of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has lost force, they are mandatory for all entities throughout the territory of Ukraine,” the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council noted.

Also, the indicated government documents do not contain any references to the date of the order that determines the list of combat areas. “There cannot be one, because this order is constantly updated due to changes in the list of such territories,” the VAR noted.

“The above-mentioned acts of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine contain only a reference to the relevant list of territories and do not indicate the details of a specific order that determines such a list, and therefore the new order of the Ministry of Development of Communities and Territories should be applied by JSC “Ukrzaliznytsia” when providing the relevant discount,” the appeal explains.

The All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council believes that the UZ’s approach to applying the provisions of the legislation is not only irresponsible towards farmers who conduct their activities in extremely difficult conditions and risk their lives by continuing to work, but also “extremely legally unfounded.”

The All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council requires the government leadership and relevant ministries to ensure the implementation of current legislation on providing a 30% discount to the established tariffs for export transportation of agricultural products from frontline territories.

“We demand immediate intervention in the situation and ensure unconditional fulfillment by JSC Ukrzaliznytsia of the requirements of the specified acts of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine regarding the provision of a discount for the transportation of agricultural products from frontline territories to Ukrainian ports,” the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council emphasizes. Earlier, USM reported that UZ suspended a 30% discount on export transportation of agricultural products.