Prices Have Skyrocketed: How Mobile Carriers’ Rates Have Changed Over the Years of War
16 August 14:09
Over the years of full-scale war, the cost of the cheapest plans offered by major mobile operators in Ukraine has increased by 2 to 3 times. While budget plans cost around 110–135 UAH in 2021–2022, the most affordable plans for new subscribers now cost several hundred hryvnias.
At the same time, operators have increased the amount of mobile data included in certain plans, reports [Komersant], citing OBOZ.UA.
“Kyivstar”: 370 UAH vs. 135 UAH
At the end of 2021, Kyivstar’s cheapest prepaid plan cost 135 UAH for four weeks. It included 15 GB of mobile data, 100 SMS messages, and 600 minutes for calls to other operators’ numbers.
Now, the operator’s cheapest available plan starts at 370 UAH. At the same time, the data allowance has increased —instead of 15 GB, subscribers now get 40 GB, and the number of SMS messages has risen from 100 to 300. At the same time, the number of minutes for calls to other networks has decreased—from 600 to 300.
Thus, over four years, the price of the basic plan has increased by 235 UAH, or approximately 2.7 times. However, comparing only the price isn’t entirely accurate—the package contents have also changed.
Vodafone: from 125 to 280 UAH
At Vodafone, one of the cheapest plans in the spring of 2026 was a 125 UAH-per-month offer. Even earlier, the carrier had a plan for 110 UAH.
Currently, the cheapest plan available to new subscribers on the Vodafone website is Flexx GO for 280 UAH for four weeks. The plan includes unlimited data, 500 minutes to all networks in Ukraine and the EU, and unlimited access to 30 apps.
In other words, compared to the 125 UAH plan, the cost has more than doubled. At the same time, the current 280 UAH package offers significantly more features.
lifecell: from 125 to 270 UAH
At lifecell, one of the cheapest plans in the spring of 2022 was the 125 UAH per month offer.
Prices now depend on the terms of service. Specifically, as of February 18, 2026, the “Maxi” plan for numbers ported to lifecell costs 270 UAH for four weeks. For identified or personalized numbers, the cost is 350 UAH, while the standard price for other numbers is 400 UAH.
Therefore, the figure of 270 UAH should be viewed specifically as the minimum price under certain connection conditions, rather than as a universal rate for all subscribers.
Why You Now Have to Pay More
The main change in tariff structures over the years of the war has been a significant increase in mobile internet usage. This is also linked to changes in user behavior.
Telecom analyst Oleksandr Glushchenko noted that, in fact, subscribers are increasingly purchasing internet access via their smartphones, while traditional voice calls are losing their former significance. That is why an increase in the number of gigabytes may be more important to users than an increase in the number of minutes.
At the same time, mobile operators attribute the rise in service costs not only to larger data plans. Amid a full-scale war, they are forced to spend significant funds on modernizing and restoring networks, backup power for base stations, generators, batteries, fuel, and equipment maintenance.
Prolonged power outages and the need to keep base stations operational during power outages have become a separate challenge. Additionally, operators are forced to maintain network operations in areas where infrastructure is damaged by shelling.
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