What will change on October 1: tariffs, medicines, taxes and new rules for entering the EU
1 October 09:00
October 2025 will bring a number of important changes to Ukrainians in the areas of utilities, social assistance, healthcare, finance, and even border crossing. Starting this month, the heating season will start in Ukraine, clocks will be reset to winter time, new tax and bank transfer rules will be in effect, and the EES system for entering the EU will be launched, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
Heating season: readiness is over 95%
Previously, we were focused on October 15, but now the dates are different in each region, depending on the weather.
As a reminder, the heating season should be announced when the average temperature is 8°C or below for three consecutive days.
The government assured that it is almost ready for the heating season. According to the Ministry of Communities and Territories Development, the level of readiness of housing and communal facilities is already over 95%.
Tariffs remain unchanged
Ukraine continues to have a moratorium on raising utility prices, so starting from October 1, 2025, gas and electricity tariffs for residential consumers in Ukraine will remain unchanged.
A moratorium on price increases remains in place for household consumers:
- gas – 7.96 UAH/cubic meter
- electricity – 4.32 UAH/kWh; night tariff – 2.16 UAH/kWh.
Electricity distribution tariffs for businesses in the frontline regions are increasing.
Resetting the clocks
On the night of October 25-26, at 4:00 a.m., Ukraine will switch to winter time. Clocks will need to be set back one hour.
Smartphones and computers will do it automatically, while mechanical watches will have to be set manually.
Pensioners may lose their payments
Pensioners may lose their payments if they have not undergone mandatory identification by October 1 (via the Pension Fund, video communication, Diia. Signature or a consulate if they are abroad).
Pension supplements
Pension supplements: starting from October 1, pensioners aged 70 and older will automatically receive an age supplement: 70-74 years old – UAH 300, 75-79 years old – UAH 456, 80 years old – UAH 570.
“Affordable Medicines”: new drugs
Since October, the program has added drugs for the treatment of cancer – exemestane, letrozole and tamoxifen, which are used for hormone therapy in patients with breast cancer.
The medicines are sold by electronic prescription in more than 16 thousand pharmacies.
Tariffs for mobile communications
Kyivstar mobile operator has announced an increase in tariffs for prepaid and contract subscribers. The cost of some tariffs increased from UAH 250 to UAH 300 for 4 weeks.
Starting from October 1, the cost of the LOVE UA Contract tariff for Kyivstar contract subscribers will be UAH 250 per month.
Basic social assistance through Diia
At the end of September, the Diia app launched a new service called Basic Social Assistance, which combines five types of government benefits at once.
Starting October 1, all Ukrainians who meet the criteria for property status will be able to apply for the new benefit.
The basic amount per person is UAH 4,500, but the payment is calculated on a percentage basis: 100% – for the applicant, children, people with disabilities of groups I-II; 70% (UAH 3150) – for other family members.
Payments are accrued for six months with the possibility of extension.
Veterans will be able to receive UAH 1,500 for sports
On October 1, a new stage of the Veteran’s Sport program will be launched in Ukraine, under which veterans will be able to receive UAH 1,500 for sports activities. The money will be credited through Diia.Card, a single multi-account financial instrument for government payments and personal funds.
The funds can be used for:
- gym membership
- a visit to the swimming pool;
- classes in sports sections or studios.
Additional assistance for IDPs
IDPs who have worked continuously for 6 months will receive a one-time payment of UAH 2000.
This is the so-called seventh additional payment for those IDPs who continued to work or earn income as individual entrepreneurs after receiving assistance for a six-month period. This also applies to those who, after displacement, got a job or registered as an individual entrepreneur and worked continuously until the end of a certain period.
“Schoolbag” is now available for books
Starting from October 1, the government has allowed the funds from the state payment “Schoolchildren’s Package” to be used to purchase books, while previously this money could only be spent on the purchase of necessary stationery, children’s clothing and footwear.
This year’s program runs until November 15. The funds can be used within 180 days after accrual in both offline and online stores, and payment can only be made by bank transfer.
New rules for bank transfers
Starting from October 1, all card-to-card transfers will be made through the Open Banking system.
Banks will receive more customer data, which will increase transaction security and reduce fraud.
Tax changes
- new land tax rates;
- quarterly reporting has been clarified;
- Individual entrepreneurs may not pay unified social tax if their employer has already made contributions;
- businesses with a license for alcohol, tobacco and fuel are obliged to pay employees at least UAH 16 thousand in cities and UAH 12 thousand in villages.
Withdrawal of 10 kopecks from circulation
The NBU begins to gradually withdraw 10 kopek coins from circulation.
They will remain legal tender, but banks will no longer return them to cash circulation after accepting them.
Starting from October 1, 2025, banks
- will not issue 10-kopiika coins from cash registers during cash transactions;
- will not receive reinforcement from the NBU in this denomination;
- coins that get into cash registers will no longer be returned to circulation, but will be transferred to the NBU for recycling.
At the same time, if a buyer or seller has coins of this denomination, they will continue to be able to make payments or receive change.
New rules for entering the EU
On October 12, the Entry/Exit System (EES) will be launched. When crossing the border, third-country nationals, including Ukrainians, will be registered in a digital database.
It will collect:
- a photo of the face;
- fingerprints (for persons over 12 years of age);
- passport data;
- date and place of crossing.
This applies to short-term stays (up to 90 days). To pass biometrics, passengers must get out of the vehicle. If you are traveling by train, the procedure will depend on the checkpoint, i.e. it may differ.
Failure to provide biometric data will result in denial of entry.
