Leonid Kosakivskyi is convinced that Klitschko is being diligently pushed to make such an unpopular decision.

This is a classic example of a heated political and social debate. Leonid Kosakivsky, as an experienced administrator and the first mayor of Kyiv, looks at this situation through the prism of political consequences for the current mayor.

His expression about a "disservice" and the fact that Vitali Klitschko is being "carefully pushed" to take this step indicates several important nuances:

Why is this a "disservice"?

  • Sharp price jump: Raising tariffs immediately by 3,7 times is shock therapy for the population. In political terms, it is always a blow to the rating of someone associated with the city, that is, the mayor.

  • Internal environment or pressure: Kosakivskyi hints that the idea probably comes from specialized officials or managers in the transport sector who see only the "dry economy" (budget deficit, loss-making of the metro and Kyivpastrans), but do not take into account the social explosion.

Economics vs. Politics

For any mayor, transportation is always a "hot potato." On the one hand:

  • Infrastructure (cars, rails, driver salaries) requires real money, especially in conditions of inflation.

  • On the other hand, public transport in most megacities around the world is subsidized, and attempting to pass all the costs onto passengers at once usually ends in huge public outrage.

Kosakivskyi is actually warning Klitschko: even if the economic arguments of his subordinates look convincing, he will personally bear political responsibility for "hitting the pockets" of Kyiv residents.