Trends of Ukraine’s Freight Transport Sector During the War
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36690/2674-5208-2025-4-17-32Keywords:
transport, full-scare war, logistics chain, bottleneck, carriage, trends, challengers, European integrationAbstract
The article is devoted to the study of transport development trends under the effect of the war. The objective of the study is to conduct comprehensive analysis of trends of freight transport transformation under the war-time conditions. Ukraine has been in a state of a full-scale war for the fourth year; and the transport infrastructure has suffered significant damages. In particular, the russian invasion has caused the cessation of air, river and partly maritime transport, overall drop of transportation volumes. A sharp deterioration in dynamics of transportation and forced changes of transport and economic connections due to the displacement of the origin and destination points of cargo flows are clearly observed. Among the negative factors there are the lack of qualified personnel due to the mobilization for the defense needs and also the fleeing of about 6 million people abroad. Analysis of dynamics of freight carriage by transport of Ukraine, volume of cargo handling has been provided. Challenges, new trends and risks for transport in Ukraine have been assessed. One of the biggest bottlenecks in the freight transport has been identified - the insufficient capacity of checkpoints on the border with the EU. The research methodology is based on systemic analysis of official Ukrainian government documents, expert assessment by the World Bank and the European Commission for transport industry. Analysis of the National Transport Strategy of Ukraine until 2030, the Strategy for Development and Expansion of Boarder infrastructure with the EU, recent laws for road and rail transport has been provided. Procedure for implementation aquas communitare for transport industry has been analyzed. Some solutions for improvement of the transport logistics between Ukraine and EU countries are discussed. Along with the negative trends, there are also discussed some positive prospects. Transport development priorities have been reoriented, and some reforms are being carried out in the industry in accordance with the principles of the European transport policy. Logistic chains are somehow improved thanks to the construction of dry ports near the state boarder with EU, building of links with EU railway track 1420 mm, development of multimodal transportation. Ukraine's experience has become unique in many ways.
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