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Kyiv puts 85 new buses into service with EU support, improving daily travel for residents

22.10.2026 Press and information team of the Delegation to UKRAINE

22 October 2026   

  • Ukrainian capital puts 85 new buses into operation following €18.5 million fleet renewal financed by EIB Group.

  • New vehicles serve 16 routes across Kyiv, facilitating daily transport for thousands of residents.

  • Project forms part of €200 million EIB Group programme supporting public transport upgrades in ten Ukrainian cities.

Kyiv residents have 85 new buses operating on routes across the city following an €18.5 million fleet renewal financed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group. The vehicles replaced older ones on 16 routes in the Ukrainian capital, making it easier for residents to reach workplaces, schools, hospitals and other destinations amid Russia’s war.

The new buses are 12 metres long and feature heating, air-conditioning, passenger information screens, audio stop announcements and video cameras. The vehicles also have low floors, access ramps and dedicated wheelchair spaces, facilitating boarding for older people, parents with prams, passengers with disabilities and veterans with war injuries. 

“Russia’s war continues to put enormous pressure on Ukraine and its cities including the capital, but people still need to get to work, take their children to school and reach essential services,” said EIB Group Vice-President Karl Nehammer, who attended a ceremony in Kyiv marking the handover of the buses. “These new vehicles will provide safer and more accessible transport. We remain determined to stand with Ukraine and keep Kyiv moving.”

The bus-fleet upgrade in Kyiv is part of a €200 million “Ukraine Urban Public Transport Project” (UUPTP I) financed by the EIB Group and implemented by the Ukrainian Ministry for Recovery, Infrastructure and Transport.  

“Russia’s war has made accessible public transport more important than ever, particularly for veterans and people recovering from injuries,” said Gediminas Navickas, Chargé d'affaires a.i. of the EU Delegation to Ukraine. “These new buses will help more Kyiv residents travel independently and access the services they need. This is a practical example of how EU support responds to Ukraine’s changing needs.” 

The UUPTP I programme also covers Kharkiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, Lviv, Lutsk, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa and Mykolaiv, with an additional €3.5 million in EU technical assistance.

“Russia’s war has placed enormous pressure on Ukraine’s cities, but people still depend on public transport every day,” said Minister for Recovery, Infrastructure and Transport of Ukraine Mykola Kalashnyk. “With the EIB Group’s support, we are renewing transport fleets in ten cities, helping local authorities maintain services and provide safer, more accessible journeys for residents.”   

Kyiv, whose population is around 3 million, received the new buses between September 2025 and June 2026. Run by municipal transport company Kyivpastrans, the vehicles can each accommodate up to 107 passengers, including 27 seated.   

“Despite the constant threat of Russian attacks, Kyiv continues to work and develop,” said Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko. “The 85 buses are an important addition to our transport network and will improve travel for thousands of residents. We are grateful to the EU and the EIB Group for supporting our city.”

“New, modern buses will help improve the quality of passenger services, provide comfortable travel conditions and ensure barrier-free access to public transport,” said Acting Director General of Kyivpastrans Municipal Enterprise Tetiana Tarasko. “The buses are fully adapted to the needs of people with reduced mobility.”

Background information

EIB Group in Ukraine 

Present in Ukraine since 2007, the EIB Group has significantly stepped up its financial support for the country’s resilience and modernisation following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Since then, EIB Group financing in support of Ukraine has reached more than €4.5 billion. Through its EU for Ukraine (EU4U) Initiative, coupled with its key role in implementing a dedicated window under the Ukraine Facility, the EIB Group is strongly committed to stepping up and accelerating its activities in line with the mandate given by EU leaders and in close cooperation with the European Commission, the European Parliament, Member States and international partners.

Press contact 

Olga Sushytska, o.sushytska@eib.org