29 October 2026, 15:03
On October 29, 2026, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted in the second reading and in its entirety the Law of Ukraine "On Amendments to Article 15 of the Law of Ukraine 'On Humanitarian Aid' Regarding the Expansion of the Types of Humanitarian Aid and the Scope of its Beneficiaries and Recipients During the Period of Martial Law" (Draft Law Reg. No. 15102).
The Law provides for:
expanding the list of vehicles, equipment, machinery, and spare parts that may be provided as humanitarian aid to ensure the operation of public bus routes and urban electric transport;
designating the joint-stock company operating public railway transport as both a recipient and a beneficiary of humanitarian aid to support passenger and freight transportation, the repair and maintenance of railway tracks, the protection of critical infrastructure facilities, as well as traffic safety and management on the railway;
designating the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority and its branches (sea port administrations), along with state-owned stevedoring companies, as recipients and beneficiaries of humanitarian aid for the prevention, timely detection, containment, and elimination of accidents (catastrophes) and emergency events in sea ports and at sea;
designating business entities categorized under relevant civil protection classifications and those subject to fire protection by state fire and rescue units as recipients and beneficiaries of humanitarian aid to support the operations of such units;
establishing specific procedures for the transfer, accounting, distribution, and use of relevant humanitarian aid, as well as providing for the approval of corresponding regulations by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
Under martial law, proper transport connectivity is of critical importance for sustaining the livelihood of the population, ensuring access to medical, educational, administrative, and social services, as well as supporting economic activity across regions.