New limits on money transfers and penalties for "limited suitability": what changes will take effect from February 1st?
Starting February 1, banks in Ukraine will impose limits on money transfers for clients who do not have verified income. Additionally, at the beginning of the month, the deadline for passing the Military Medical Commission (MMC) for those deemed "conditionally fit" will expire, and those who fail to do so may face fines.
For more details on these and other significant updates in February 2025, visit RBC-Ukraine.
Bank Transfer Restrictions
As of February 1, 2025, Ukrainian banks will set a limit of 150,000 UAH per month on money transfers. This applies to outgoing payments using IBAN details.
However, this restriction will not apply to all clients, but only to those without documented proof of income. For such individuals, banks will categorize them into three risk groups based on specific criteria: "high," "medium," and "low."
According to the Memorandum adopted by the banks, clients in the "high" risk group will have a transfer limit of 50,000 UAH. For clients in the "medium" and "low" risk groups, a phased restriction will be introduced:
- from February 1, 2025 – a limit of up to 150,000 UAH per month;
- from June 1, 2025 – a limit of up to 100,000 UAH per month.
Clients intending to make transfers exceeding the established monthly limit are required to provide documented proof of income.
With documented proof, banks will establish or lift limits on transactions based on the financial capabilities of such clients, particularly through monitoring the amounts credited to their accounts.
Limits will not apply to clients with verified sources of income, including holders of salary cards and volunteers.
It should be noted that since October 2024, a limit on P2P transfers (from card to card) for individuals in Ukraine has been set at 150,000 UAH. This restriction will remain in effect until April 1, 2025.
Deadline for Repeating the MMC: Who Will Face Fines
Last year, the term "conditionally fit" for military service was abolished in Ukraine. Individuals with this status were given nine months to undergo a repeat Military Medical Commission (MMC). The deadline expires on February 4, 2025.
Those liable for military service who do not pass the MMC by this date may face fines ranging from 17,000 to 25,500 UAH for violations of military registration rules.
Photo: the repeat MMC must be completed by February 4 (armyinform.com.ua)
The order for undergoing the MMC is issued by a representative of the Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support after a summons or upon an individual's own request. Based on the medical examination results, instead of "conditionally fit," the following statuses may be granted:
Fit
- for military service, including for both combat and non-combat tasks;
- for service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine (in marine infantry units, airborne assault troops, submarines, special units, etc.);
- for service in support military units, Territorial Centers for Recruitment and Social Support, training centers, logistics, medical, and other divisions, but not in special or combat units.
Unfit
- for service in the Armed Forces or by military specialty (determined unfit for service in special units);
- for military service with a review in 6-12 months;
- for military service with exclusion from military registration.
Payments to Relatives of Military Personnel
Starting February 1, 2025, the procedure for payments to the relatives of military personnel who are captured or considered missing will change.
Previously, the entire amount of financial support was received by one family member, usually the husband or wife.
The new rules allow military personnel to designate individuals who will receive financial support in the event of their capture or if they go missing.
If no such designation exists, 50% of the military's financial support will be evenly distributed among immediate relatives.
This refers to first-degree relatives: wife (husband), legal representative of minor children, children with disabilities from childhood or their legal representatives, and parents of the military (excluding those receiving alimony from them, as well as parents deprived of parental rights).
Photo: families of captured military personnel will receive funds under the new mechanism (Getty Images)
If the military personnel have no designated individuals, financial support may be paid to adult children, siblings (brothers and sisters), whose legal representative is the military personnel, but in total 20% of the financial support.
The remaining amount (50% or 80%) will be held in the military unit and paid to the military personnel upon their release from captivity or upon their return if they were declared missing.
New Electricity Tariff
From February 1, 2025, households heating their premises with electric appliances will pay for electricity under a new differentiated tariff:
- for consumption up to 2000 kWh per month, the preferential price will be 2.64 UAH/kWh;
- the tariff for the volume exceeding the preferential norm will be 4.32 UAH/kWh.
For example, if the meter readings for February total 2500 kWh, the amount due will be as follows:
2000*2.64+500*4.32 = 7440 UAH
It is worth noting that owners of electric heating previously had access to the preferential tariff of 2.64 UAH/kWh, but only for consumption up to 2000 kWh per month. If the meter registered more, the tariff of 4.32 UAH/kWh applied to the entire volume.
The differentiated electricity tariff for electric heating owners will be in effect until the end of the heating season – April 30, 2025.
Other residential consumers in February will pay for electricity at the tariff of 4.32 UAH/kWh, or with a two-zone meter: from 07:00 to 23:00 – 4.32 UAH/kWh; from 23:00 to 07:00 – 2.16 UAH/kWh.
E-Registration at the Ministry of Internal Affairs Service Centers
The Ministry of Internal Affairs service centers will enhance electronic registration for citizens seeking services. Testing of the new system began in 52 centers across the country in mid-December 2024.
The updated test online registration will be available for all services of the Ministry of Internal Affairs service centers, starting February 4, 2025.
Photo: the new e-registration system in the Ministry of Internal Affairs service centers (hsc.gov.ua)
The new functionality will help avoid external interference, such as automated bots, and eliminate paper tickets.
Holidays and Weekends in February
There will be no state holidays in the last month of winter. Furthermore, martial law continues in Ukraine (at least until May 9, 2025), which means the cancellation of additional weekends.
Thus, the days off in February 2025 will be Saturdays and Sundays: 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, and 23.
However, next month will feature several church and folk holidays. According to the new calendar of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, The Meeting of the Lord is celebrated on February 2 (instead of February 15). Additionally, the week of Maslenitsa 2025 begins on February 24.
In preparing this material, publications from the press service of the Ministry of Defense, the Main Service Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Government Portal, the Memorandum "On Ensuring Transparency in the Functioning of the Banking Payment Services Market," the law "On Social and Legal Protection of Military Personnel and Their Families," and the calendar of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine were used.