“Punishment for the Poor”: Neffyodov criticized stopping transportation during alarms in Kyiv

“Punishment for the Poor”: Neffyodov criticized stopping transportation during alarms in Kyiv

Kyiv City Council deputy from the Holos party, Maksym Neffyodov, spoke out against the current practice of stopping public transport in the capital during air raid warnings. In his view, this system effectively punishes the least affluent Kyivites, since wealthier passengers can use taxis, while others are forced to wait for long periods at open stops in the open air.

This was reported by Informator.

The politician stated this in his post, emphasizing the social injustice of the decision. According to Neffyodov, wealthier residents have the opportunity to use private cars, taxis, or endure the danger in dining establishments during a threat. Meanwhile, public transport passengers are forced to wait for hours for the movement to resume in the open air.

“When you see hundreds of people in Kyiv during an air raid waiting for hours at public transport stops to start moving, you want to wish responsible officials many years of painful suffering and that doctors won’t give them painkillers ‘to minimize risks’... It is especially horrifying that this is a ‘punishment for the poor’ for those who cannot afford to ride by car or taxi every day. Or to endure the alarm in a nearby restaurant,” the deputy wrote.

Photo: facebook.com/max.nefyodov

The politician also criticized the inaction of officials responsible for adopting and maintaining this regulation, noting that they themselves do not use public transport.

Authorities review transport movement protocols during alarms

The criticism comes as Kyiv authorities are trying to develop new rules for operating transport during air raids. Currently, ground transport stops near shelters, and passengers may leave the car if they wish, but in practice this does not always save people from long waits at open stops without nearby shelters.

The problem is exacerbated by Russia’s shift in tactics, which instead of one massive strike keeps Kyiv in a state of alarm for hours, forcing transport and the city’s social infrastructure to stop regularly. This is pushing deputies and transport analysts to demand clearer solutions from the Kyiv City State Administration that will protect people, not merely halt city movement.