Thursday13 February 2025
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Transfer limits to cards, new benefits, and fees. What will change starting February 1?

A series of changes will take place, affecting various aspects of life.
Изменения с 1 февраля: новые лимиты переводов на карты, обновленные льготы и тарифы. Узнайте, что вас ждет!

February 2025 will commence with a series of important changes that will affect many Ukrainians. New electricity tariffs, restrictions on bank transfers, increased mobile operator rates, and new regulations for compensating relatives of missing persons will all come into effect in the last month of winter.

Therefore, it is essential to be mindful of your expenses and financial transactions in the new reality. "Telegraph" has compiled all the key changes:

Changes to the electricity payment under the preferential tariff

Starting February 1, 2025, the tariff for electricity will change for consumers who lack gas supply (instead using electric heating systems) or do not have or operate centralized heating systems.

Consumers who exceed the norm of 2000 kWh will receive a benefit: a fixed tariff of 2.64 UAH for the first 2000 kWh, while the usual tariff of 4.32 UAH/kWh will apply starting from the 2001 kWh. This benefit will be temporary.

Limits on transfers between cards

From February 1, Ukrainian banks will introduce new restrictions on card transfers for individuals and individual entrepreneurs who do not have documented income. This provision is established in a memorandum signed by Ukrainian banks in December of last year. A total of 44 banks and 2 payment systems (Sberbank, PrivatBank, Raiffeisen Bank, PUMB, Universal Bank, Sens Bank, NovaPay, RozetkaPay, etc.) have joined the memorandum.

The restrictions will apply to outgoing payments based on IBAN details. Banks will classify such clients into three risk groups: "high," "medium," and "low." Separate limitations will be set for each group.

For clients with a "high" risk level, the limit will be 50 thousand UAH per month.

For "medium" and "low" risk groups, restrictions will be introduced in two phases:

  • from February 1, 2025 — up to 150 thousand UAH;
  • from June 1, 2025 — up to 100 thousand UAH.

The restrictions will not apply to individuals with confirmed income (salary clients and others), as well as volunteers whose activities are documented (in accordance with NBU Resolution No. 18 dated February 24, 2022, "On the operation of the banking system during martial law").

Additionally, restrictions will not apply to operations transferring funds between two accounts opened by the client in one bank.

Publication of the list of "luxury cars" subject to tax

After February 1, 2025, the Ministry of Economy will publish a list of car models that will be subject to a new tax. This tax applies to owners of cars less than 5 years old, with a value exceeding three million UAH.

It is anticipated that the treasury will receive 25,000 UAH per year for each such vehicle. If a car reaches five years of age during the reporting year, the tax is paid for the period from January 1 of that year until the beginning of the month following the month in which the vehicle turns (or has turned) five years old.

The last month to confirm critical enterprise status

Critical enterprises must confirm their status by February 28, 2025, as required by new rules that came into effect on December 1, 2024.

Thus, all companies, regardless of the date of their last status confirmation, must meet the new requirements. The main criteria are:

  • absence of tax arrears,
  • average salary of at least 20,000 UAH,
  • as well as one of the industry or regional criteria.

First, the company confirms its critical status, and then it must re-submit employee lists for reservation through "Diia." Until the updated lists are submitted, all reservations remain in effect. If the enterprise fails to confirm its status, reserved employees will lose their reservations starting March 1.

What awaits those with limited fitness in February

Those liable for military service and soldiers who had "limited fitness" status until May 4, 2024, must undergo a repeat military medical commission by February 5, 2025. However, nearly one million have yet to pass the commission.

Consequently, a draft law has been registered in the Verkhovna Rada stating that those who fail to undergo the commission will not face administrative penalties. Previously, authorities announced that non-compliance with the law could result in fines ranging from 17,000 to 25,500 UAH.

The parliament is proposing to extend the deadline for undergoing the military medical commission until June 5 this year.

It should be noted that this is only possible if the Rada manages to vote promptly.

At the same time, Deputy Head of the President's Office of Ukraine Iryna Vereshchuk assured that there is an agreement with the military enlistment offices not to impose fines on those who do not complete the commission by February 5. The official clarified that the corresponding directive will be "sent as per jurisdiction."

The last month to apply for 1000 UAH from Zelensky

February is the final month to apply for the 1000 UAH under the "Winter Support" program. Applications will be accepted until the 28th of the month via the "Diia" app, "Ukrposhta" branches, or banks.

The funds can be spent on medical services, utility payments, communication, and donations to the Armed Forces until the end of 2025.

Every Ukrainian regardless of age residing in Ukraine (excluding temporarily occupied territories) is entitled to a one-time payment.

Changes in payments to relatives of prisoners and missing persons

Starting February 1, changes to the law "On social and legal protection of military personnel and their families" will come into force in Ukraine, concerning the payment procedures to relatives of prisoners and missing military personnel.

Previously, the full amount was to be received by the soldier's wife (husband). Now, a share of the payments can be received by more relatives of the soldier. Thus, 50% of the payments must be equally distributed among first-degree relatives — the wife (husband), legal representatives of minor children (except those receiving alimony from the soldier), children of individuals with disabilities from childhood (regardless of age) or their legal representatives, and the soldier's parents (except for parents deprived of parental rights).

If there are no first-degree relatives, then 20% of the payments will go to second-degree relatives. These include adult children, brothers, or sisters. The unpaid portion of funds (50% or 80%) will be held in the military unit and paid to the soldier upon his return from captivity or appearance, if he was declared missing.

Payments for a soldier captured or considered missing amount to approximately 120,000 UAH per month.

The soldier can independently determine who and what amount should be received in case he is captured or declared missing. For this purpose, a personal directive must be composed.

Tariffs for Lifecell permanent customers will increase

Ukrainian mobile operators began raising tariffs in December 2024, with "Kyivstar" being the first, followed by "Vodafone Ukraine." In February, it's Lifecell's turn to increase rates for subscribers.

The reasons for the increase in tariffs for all mobile operators include frequency acquisition, tax hikes, the obligation to ensure 10 hours of operation without electricity, adjustments for exchange rates and inflation, and the restoration of destroyed infrastructure due to the war.

Changes in Lifecell's tariff policy will occur between February and March 2025. The company is reducing the number of tariffs, raising their prices, and discontinuing some plans. On average, tariff costs will increase by 34%.

The price revision will not affect new MNP subscribers (Mobile Number Portability or switching with their number to another operator) who transferred their number to Lifecell and took advantage of the "stop-price" promotion.

Tickets for Kyiv-Warsaw and Kyiv-Bucharest will rise in price

Starting February 1, train tickets to Poland and Hungary will become more expensive due to a reduction in discounts. The cost of travel in the most popular international trains will increase. Specifically, for the Poland direction, ticket prices will rise:

  • in first-class Intercity+ and SV cars – by 20-27%;
  • in couchette cars – by 9-27%.