Uklon challenges FlixBus and launches transportation in Europe
16 July 21:23
Uklon plans to expand its business and enter the international bus transportation market. The launch is expected in early 2026, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports citing Forbes.
This could become one of the largest logistics projects among Ukrainian private players in recent years.
According to preliminary estimates, the potential market for bus transportation between Ukraine and the EU countries could reach UAH 7 billion a year. For comparison, this is almost half the volume of the entire legal taxi market in Ukraine as of 2023-2024. For a company that has specialized for decades in domestic city transportation, this step is a strategic expansion of both its geography and business model.
Starting with the Kyiv – Warsaw route
Uklon has not yet officially announced a full map of future routes, but sources in Forbes Ukraine say that one of the first destinations will be Kyiv – Warsaw. This route is not accidental: the Polish capital has been one of the most popular destinations for Ukrainian labor migrants, refugees, students, and small businesses for several years in a row. A large share of bus traffic on this route falls on the gray sector, which creates a favorable environment for a legal player with a strong reputation.
Uklon follows the new rules
A key factor contributing to the entry into the international transportation market was the introduction of the “roaming like at home” regime between Ukraine and the EU, which will take effect on January 1, 2026. This means that Ukrainian subscribers will be able to use mobile internet, calls and SMS in the EU at domestic rates. On the one hand, this will increase the mobility of citizens, and on the other hand, it will signal to Ukrainian companies that integration into the European market is moving in a practical direction.
For Uklon, this is also a new level of operational complexity: international transportation requires completely different logistics, licensing, maintenance, personnel, and service support. However, given the company’s experience in IT solutions for mobile transport, analysts estimate the chances of a successful launch as high.
Read also: Uklon goes to Kyivstar: details of the $155 million deal
Uklon’s success as a case study of Ukrainian resilience
Uklon is one of the few Ukrainian platforms that continued to operate even during the most difficult periods of the war, maintaining infrastructure, supporting drivers, and security protocols. The company demonstrated adaptability by launching new services. For example, transportation for the military, humanitarian logistics, and delivery of goods. Entering the international market is a logical extension of this strategy.
According to industry experts, the growth in demand for legal and safe bus transportation is a steady trend. Uklon may become the first Ukrainian platform to go abroad not through franchising, but as a full-fledged operator. In the future, this could set a precedent for expansion in other areas. In particular, on intra-European routes between EU countries.
If the Uklon project is implemented successfully, it could transform not only passenger transportation but also the very approach to integrating Ukrainian businesses into European economies. Instead of outsourcing or localized branches, the company is creating a model in which the Ukrainian brand becomes an independent player in the EU’s competitive environment.
In the context of the post-war economic recovery, this could be a signal to investors that Ukrainian business is not only able to survive, but also to scale. And while European bus operators are looking at the Ukrainian market, it is a Ukrainian company that is the first to enter their territory.
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