Drivers refuse to carry commuters with benefits: what to do for combat veterans.

Free transport for combat veterans and beneficiaries: what the legislation provides

Combat veterans, individuals with disabilities due to the war, and those equated to them have the legal right to free public transport. Sometimes drivers of private minibuses refuse to transport beneficiaries without payment, writes RBK-Ukraine.

According to the Law of Ukraine 'On the Status of War Veterans', free transport is provided for:

• combat veterans and persons equated to them;
• individuals with disabilities due to the war;
• persons accompanying individuals with disabilities of group I.

'The benefit applies in the presence of a certificate of the established sample, and in case of the introduction of electronic accounting, also an electronic ticket, which is issued free of charge,' explains the lawyer.

Beneficiaries have the right to free transport by all types of transport:

• urban passenger transport;
• automobile transport of general use in rural areas;
• railway and water transport of suburban communication;
• buses of suburban and intercity routes.

A driver's refusal to transport a beneficiary is a violation of the law and can be challenged. This often happens because the state or local authorities do not compensate transporters for the cost of beneficiary trips.

If you are asked to pay or are thrown out of the minibus, you can file a complaint with:

• the transporter;
• the local government authority or executive power with which the contract has been concluded;
• Ukrtransbezpeka, the National Police, or the State Consumer Protection Service.

Therefore, combat veterans have legal rights to free transport, and the refusal of transporters to provide this service is a violation of legislation that can be challenged in competent authorities.