Prices for medicines, pensions, time change and more: what will change in Ukraine from 1 March

1 March 2025 will bring many innovations: from increased pensions and fines for entrepreneurs to resetting the clocks and lowering the prices of medicines. Read more about the changes in this article

Legal advice for Ukrainians

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With the beginning of spring 2025, a number of important changes are planned in Ukraine that will directly affect the lives of millions of citizens. Below are the most important innovations that you should know.

Pension indexation from 1 March 2025

Traditionally, pensions in Ukraine are indexed every year in March. In 2025:

- The increase in payments will affect more than 10 million pensioners.

- The average increase will be 11.5%.

- The minimum increase will be UAH 100, and the maximum increase will be UAH 1,500.

The exact amount of the increase for each pensioner will be determined individually, depending on the previous pension amount and insurance record.

New fines for individual entrepreneurs

Starting from 1 March 2025, all individual entrepreneurs (IEs) must switch to a new format of fiscal checks in accordance with the requirements of Law of Ukraine No. 265. In case of violation of the rules, severe penalties are envisaged:

- No POS terminal or ignoring tax inspections.

- Unregistered employees are also in the focus of attention of regulatory authorities.

The use of old-style fiscal receipts and the absence of a payment transaction recorder are subject to a fine of 100% of the amount of goods sold using the wrong document.

Automatic cancellation of declarations with family doctors

In March 2025, some Ukrainians may lose the validity of their declarations with family doctors. This will happen if the patient:

1. Has not visited a doctor for 3 years.

2. Changed their personal data but did not update it in the declaration.

3. Signed the declaration before 2018 (under the old system).

To avoid cancellation of the contract, contact your doctor and check whether all personal data is up to date. For children under 14 years of age, you need to check the data on their birth certificate. Adolescents over 14 years of age must confirm the correctness of their biometric passport data.

Daylight saving time 2025

In 2025, Ukraine will switch to daylight saving time again, as the bill to cancel seasonal time change has not been signed by the president.

The date of the changeover: 30 March. Time of changeover: at 3:00 a.m., the hands should be moved forward one hour (after 2:59 a.m., it will be 4:00 a.m.).

On smartphones and smartwatches, the time will change automatically, while mechanical watches will have to be reset manually.

Lower prices for medicines

According to the decision of the National Security and Defence Council (NSDC), starting from 1 March 2025, prices for a number of the most popular medicines in Ukraine will be reduced.

- More than 100 drugs will become 10-40% cheaper.

- Among them: Ibuprofen, Validol, Analgin, Citramon, Diclofenac, etc.

This should make medicines more affordable for the population.

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Changes in the rules for mobilisation reservations

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has extended the mobilisation exemption for employees of critical enterprises until 31 March. Previously, the extension was only valid until the end of February.

Business leaders have been given another month to rebook their employees. To do so, they need to confirm that the company meets the criteria of being critical to the economy.

Restrictions on men travelling abroad

Starting in March 2025, travelling abroad for men transporting humanitarian and medical supplies will now be subject to general regulations.

Under the new rules, only those drivers who have other grounds for leaving Ukraine (for example, age 60+, three or more children, or a disability) will be able to leave the country.

Starting from 3 March, representatives of the cultural sector will no longer be able to travel abroad under a simplified procedure due to numerous violations. The Ministry of Culture will develop a new algorithm for issuing permits.

Completion of the simplified procedure for returning to service after the JFO

On 1 March 2025, the simplified procedure for returning servicemen to service after regular military service (RMS) will expire.

From now on, the reinstatement procedure will take longer and will not provide for the retention of payments previously in force for the period of simplified return.

We remind you! Being deregistered from the military register does not always give you the right to cross the border. We have explained the difference between deregistration and exclusion from the register, who has the right to leave and what procedures you need to go through to determine your status.

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