Ukrzaliznytsia is updating the ticket purchasing rules for several popular trains, including routes from Odesa to Lviv and Kyiv. Starting from August 1st, mandatory verification through the "Diia.Sign" service will be introduced in a test mode.

Buying tickets at ticket offices will be unavailable

From August 1, 2025, to purchase or return tickets for certain domestic trains, passengers must verify their identity through Diia.Sign, according to the press service of "Ukrzaliznytsia".
The company states that the new rules are being implemented to reduce the potential for abuse during railway ticket purchases.
In the first phase of these changes, verification will apply to five popular routes:

• No. 105/106 Odesa – Kyiv;
• No. 12 Lviv – Odesa;
• No. 91/92 Lviv – Kyiv;
• No. 29/30 Kyiv – Uzhhorod;
• No. 27/28 Kyiv – Chop.

Purchasing tickets for these routes through ticket offices will not be available, emphasized Ukrzaliznytsia.

The new rules do not apply to tickets for military personnel – they remain available through special services and the "Army+" application.

Ukrainians complain about difficulties in ticket purchasing – reasons

Every summer, Ukrainians face challenges when buying tickets for popular destinations. This year, demand for trains in July and August has surged significantly, and "Ukrzaliznytsia" explained why this is happening:

This summer, there is an abnormal load on popular routes. For example, the load on trains towards Yaremche and Bukovel has reached 460%.
In addition to tourists, many organized groups travel – from frontline areas, families of internally displaced persons, children of military personnel, and heroes.

To ensure everyone can travel, the company is increasing the number of trains: 8 new routes have already been added to popular destinations, and "Intercity" trains have started operating at night. Moreover, an additional 100 carriages have been ordered.

However, the situation is complicated by resellers. 2800 accounts that violated the rules have already been blocked. Validation through "Diia" is in place for international routes, and it may soon be implemented for domestic routes during the peak season.

Ukrainians are urged to buy tickets online

"This is how 90% of sales are realized" – railway workers explain.

The company also encourages the use of the "Auto Purchase" service, which automatically buys tickets from returns. It is noted that out of 403 thousand applications, 229 thousand were successful.