“Ukrzaliznytsia is preparing a large-scale optimization: sale of assets, staff reduction and privatization of hospitals
7 November 21:56
The state-owned company Ukrzaliznytsia plans to get rid of non-core assets, such as hospitals, water pipes, or unnecessary depots, as part of a large-scale optimization program.
This was stated by the company’s chairman of the board , Oleksandr Pertsovsky, during a conversation with journalists, hromadske reports, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
The goal is to achieve an economic effect of about UAH 17 billion by 2026.
“UAH 17 billion is the annual effect of 2026. It is a very ambitious goal… Realistically, God willing, we can reach 80-90%,” Pertsovsky said.
What exactly is planned to be optimized
According to the head of UZ, the program includes several areas:
- sale of scrap metal
- transfer of non-core assets, including hospitals, utilities and water pipes;
- reduction of administrative staff;
- merger of regional railways.
Hospitals to be transferred to the Ministry of Health
Ukrzaliznytsia’s departmental hospitals are being transferred to new owners in cooperation with the Ministry of Health.
According to Pertsovsky, it is not about closing them, but about preserving their medical profile and staff:
“In Kharkiv, one hospital is becoming a heart center, and another in Lviv has already become a university hospital. They retain their profile and staff, they just move to those who should be practicing medicine,” he explained.
Communal facilities belong to the community, but not everyone wants to take them
Among the company’s non-core assets are water pipelines and municipal infrastructure.
They are trying to transfer them to the balance sheet of local communities, but, according to Pertsovsky, cities are often not ready to take these facilities:
“They are satisfied when the railroad does it,” the UZ executive added.
“Ukrzaliznytsia remains one of the largest debtors among state-owned companies
The company’s external debt exceeds $1 billion.
In addition, in the summer, the company announced a tender to find an international legal advisor to accompany it in the “extremely complex process” of debt settlement.
At the same time, the government has allocated state funding to compensate for losses from passenger transportation: in 2025, the railroad will receive UAH 13 billion, and in 2026 – another UAH 16 billion.
