What sanctions threaten passengers for smoking in the vestibule and stopping the train?
A forgotten ticket on the train, smoking in the vestibule, or walking on the tracks can lead to significant costs for passengers. Each violation comes with its own price.
Ukrzaliznytsia commented to RBC-Ukraine on the fines that will be imposed for violating public order and safety rules in 2026.
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Main points:
- Legislative framework: Responsibility for violations on the railway is regulated by the norms of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses, particularly regarding traffic safety and fire safety.
- Traveling without a ticket: The fine for traveling without a ticket (especially for children aged 7 to 16) amounts to ten times the cost of the ticket.
- Behavior in carriages: Smoking in unauthorized places and throwing trash out of windows can result in fines of up to 20 and 10 non-taxable minimum incomes, respectively.
- Traffic safety: Unauthorized stopping of a train, traveling on the roofs of carriages, or placing objects on the tracks can incur fines of up to 15 and 40 non-taxable minimum incomes.
- Material damage: For damaging the property of carriages, railway tracks, or protective plantings, a fine of up to 30 non-taxable minimum incomes is imposed on citizens.
- The highest fines: Violating fire safety rules can result in fines for officials amounting to 600 non-taxable minimum incomes.
UZ notes that the responsibility for violating the rules of using railway transport, traffic safety, cargo preservation, and fire safety is regulated by the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses.
Reasons passengers can be fined
In particular, unauthorized travel in freight trains, boarding or alighting while in motion, traveling on the steps and roofs of carriages, as well as unjustified stopping of the train are punishable by fines ranging from seven to fifteen non-taxable minimum incomes.
Throwing trash out of windows and doors of carriages or crossing tracks in unauthorized places can lead to a warning or a fine from two to ten non-taxable minimum incomes.
Smoking in carriages (including in the vestibules) of suburban trains, as well as in unauthorized places in local and long-distance trains, is punishable by a warning or a fine from five to twenty non-taxable minimum incomes.
Traveling without a ticket for a passenger or transporting a child aged seven to sixteen without a ticket incurs a fine amounting to ten times the cost of travel.
Specific violations and responsibility
Damage to the internal equipment of passenger carriages, windows of locomotives and carriages incurs a fine from ten to thirty non-taxable minimum incomes.
Damage to railway tracks, protective forest plantings, snow protection barriers, signaling and communication structures and devices is punishable by fines for citizens ranging from ten to thirty non-taxable minimum incomes, and for officials from twenty to sixty.
Placing objects on the tracks that could disrupt train movement incurs a fine from fifteen to forty non-taxable minimum incomes.
Violating the rules for transporting hazardous materials or hand luggage is punishable by a warning or a fine from six to ten non-taxable minimum incomes.
Transporting hand luggage beyond the established norms incurs a fine from 0.5 to one non-taxable minimum income.
The largest fines
Violating fire safety rules in railway transport is punishable by a fine for citizens amounting to fifty non-taxable minimum incomes, and for officials – six hundred non-taxable minimum incomes.
Previously, RBC-Ukraine reported on the conditions for accessing Wi-Fi on Ukrzaliznytsia trains. It is noted that free internet is available only on “Intercity” trains, while on certain routes with Starlink it is partially paid and may experience interruptions due to speed restrictions.
Recall that starting in March 2026, the cost of bedding on trains has increased. We previously reported on what the set includes and what services should be provided to passengers.
