Ukraine - 1 Country Profile

Ukraine - 1 Country Profile

Generic Information


Territory
Ukraine, nestled in Eastern Europe, is the continent's second-largest country after Russia, with a total land area of about 603,500 square kilometres. Historically significant and politically pivotal, it shares its borders with seven countries: Russia to the east and northeast, Belarus to the north, Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary to the west, and Romania and Moldova to the southwest. Additionally, it has a considerable stretch of coastline to the south, where it meets the Black Sea and the smaller Sea of Azov.


Geography

Ukraine's geography is diverse, playing a crucial role in its historical development, culture, and economy. The landscape can be roughly divided into three main zones: forest belts, forest-steppe, and steppe.

  1. Forest Belts: Dominating the northern and north-western parts, this region, primarily consisting of mixed and coniferous trees, witnesses the flow of major rivers like the Desna and the Pripyat. The terrain is often marshy, especially in the Polesia area, which sprawls across the northern borders.
  2. Forest-Steppe: Transitioning southwards, the forest-steppe zone is a blend of woodland and grassy plains, with rivers such as the Dnieper, one of the longest in Europe, flowing through. This region has historically been the agricultural heartland of the country due to its fertile black soils or "chernozem". Major cities like Kyiv, the capital, and Kharkiv are located here.
  3. Steppe: Further south, the landscape opens into vast plains or steppe. Although once entirely grassland, much of this region is now cultivated. It stretches to the Black Sea coast, with significant ports like Odesa. The Crimean Peninsula, though internationally recognized as part of Ukraine, has been a contentious region and was annexed by Russia in 2014.

The country also boasts of the Carpathian Mountains to the west, providing a scenic backdrop and a haven for nature enthusiasts. To the south, the Black Sea coastline attracts tourists with its picturesque landscapes and sandy beaches.

Population: As of 2022, Ukraine's population hovers around 41 million.

Largest Cities:

  • Kyiv: The capital city and the political, cultural, and economic centre of Ukraine.
  • Kharkiv: Located in the north-east, it's a major industrial, educational, and cultural hub.
  • Odesa: A port city on the Black Sea, known for its maritime heritage, beaches, and architectural landmarks.
  • Dnipro: Located in the central part of the country, it's an important industrial and business centre.
  • Lviv: Nestled in the west, close to the border with Poland, Lviv is known for its historic architecture and rich cultural scene.

Administrative Division: Ukraine is administratively divided into 24 provinces, known as oblasts. In addition, there are two cities with special status: Kyiv, the capital, and Sevastopol, located on the Crimean Peninsula. The Crimean Peninsula itself, recognized internationally as part of Ukraine, became an area of contention after its annexation by Russia in 2014. Each oblast is further divided into districts, cities, and villages, each having its local governing bodies.


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Key websites:

(*note - this is a paid service)

 

Humanitarian Info

 

Facts and Figures

 

Ukraine - 1.1 Humanitarian Background

Disasters, Conflicts and Migration

Natural Disasters

Type

Occurs

Comments / Details

 

Drought

Yes

The European Commission has estimated that at least 11 % of Europe's population and 17 % of its territory have been affected by water scarcity to date and put the cost of droughts in Europe over the past thirty years at EUR 100 billion (1).  The drought of 2003 caused a total economic cost of over EUR13 billion in around twenty European countries http://www.climatechangepost.com/ukraine/droughts/

 

Earthquakes

Yes

The largest earthquake in Ukraine:

  • 2023: 4,7 in Foros, Crimea, Ukraine

http://earthquaketrack.com/p/ukraine/recent

 

Epidemics

Yes

Diphtheria, 1991-1997.  By 1995, a mass immunization strategy was adopted by the Government of Ukraine.
Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), SARS-CoV-2, 2020-2023.  By 2023, a mass immunization strategy was adopted by the Government of Ukraine.

 

Extreme Temperatures

Yes

Can reach minus 35C0 in the winter months.

 

Flooding

Yes

The highest risks of flooding are found in the southern and western regions of the country. 

 

Insect Infestation

Yes

Information on a broad range of insects effecting Ukraine, including import issues. https://zelenasadyba.com.ua/sad-i-gorod/komahy-shkidnyky-roslyn.html

https://www.cherk-consumer.gov.ua/novyny/3754-prohnoz-rozvytku-shkidlyvykh-komakh-i-khvorob-silhospkultur-na-terytorii-cherkaskoi-oblasti-u-chervni-2022-roku

 

Mudslides

Yes

After intense rainfalls mudslides occur mostly in the Carpathian region, but may happen throughout the country. They block the roads and railways and are very rarely associated with fatalities.

 

Volcanic Eruptions

No

 

 

High Waves / Surges

No

 

 

Wildfires

Yes

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ed to a surge in forest and rural fires across the country. Even before the invasion, wildfires were common in the Ukrainian forests https://www.europeandatajournalism.eu/cp_data_news/ukraines-wildfires-surge-amidst-war/

 

High Winds

Yes

High winds have caused blackouts and increased the spread of wildfires.

 

Man-Made Issues

Man-made disaster

Yes

The destruction of the dam of the Kakhovka hydroelectric station was committed at about 2:50 am on 06 June 2023. The dam was under the control of the Russian military, which seized it in the early days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.. Located in the disaster zone were about 16 thousand people and about 80 settlements.

 

International Conflict

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes

The Russian-Ukrainian war is a direct and indirect use of armed force by the Russian Federation against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. The stages of the International armed conflict, which began in 2014, are:

Russian armed invasion of the Crimea in February-March 2014 (with the subsequent beginning of the temporary occupation of the peninsula by Russia on February 20, 2014).

The conflict in the East of Ukraine (Donbas) since April 2014, which began with the illegal so-called referendums in parts of Donetska and Luhanska Oblasts and lasted until the beginning of the escalation into a war.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine since 24 February 2022, which is still ongoing today (as of November 2023).

 

Internally Displaced Persons

Yes

As of July 2023, 5.1 million [AA1] internally displaced persons are officially registered in Ukraine. At the same time, more than 6.2 million Ukrainians found temporary shelter outside Ukraine.

 

Refugees Present

Yes

http://unhcr.org.ua/en/

 

Landmines / UXO Present

Yes

In connection with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, there is a high probability of detection of explosive objects throughout the state. The mined territories of Ukraine are the South, East and North regions of the country.
https://mine.dsns.gov.ua/

 

Seasonal Effects on Logistics Capacities

Seasonal Effects on Transport

Transport Type

Time Frame

Comments / Details

Primary Road Transport

November

 to February

Limitations are to be expected due to freezing/low temperatures during the winter months

Secondary Road Transport

November

 to February

Limitations are to be expected due to freezing/low temperatures during the winter months

Rail Transport

November

 to February

Limitations are to be expected due to security situation in the region.

Air Transport

 

Occasional closure due to fog and snow. However, with the onset of the invasion the airports in Ukraine have been closed; the airspace is closed.

Waterway Transport

November

 to April

River transport is not operational in winter months when rivers occasionally freeze

 

Ukraine has a temperate continental climate with cold winters and warm summers. Heavy snow falls and freezing in winter may affect transport/movement. 

 

Seasonal Effects on Storage and Handling

Activity Type

Time Frame

Comments / Details

Storage

November

to February

Potential freezing of goods

Handling

 

 

 

Heated warehouses are recommended in winter to avoid freezing of goods. Heavy snow and freezing can affect all aspects of warehouse operations.

 

Capacity and Contacts for In-Country Emergency Response

GOVERNMENT

The State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU) https://dsns.gov.ua/ is the central executive body responsible for the implementation of state policy in the area of civil protection, protection of population and territories from emergencies, prevention of emergencies, elimination of emergencies, rescue, firefighting, fire and labour safety, rescue and emergency service management, and hydro-meteorological activity.

The SESU operates in a government-controlled area and is mainly focused on dealing with disasters of technogenic natural, social, and military nature.

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List.

 

HUMANITARIAN COMMUNITY

During the war, the number of humanitarian organizations in Ukraine has increased more than 5 times. Currently, there are more than 700 humanitarian organizations, including both international agencies and local non-governmental organizations/charitable foundations. For more than half of humanitarian operators, the main activity remains food assistance and the provision of basic necessities and livelihoods. Since the beginning of the war, UN agencies and their partners have provided humanitarian assistance totalling more than $4 billion. A third of these funds were paid in the form of cash assistance. It was received by more than 5 million Ukrainians.[AA2] 

The Ministry for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories continues to actively cooperate with the humanitarian community in Ukraine. Joint projects of the Ministry are ongoing together with UNHCR Ukraine, UNICEF, WFP, IOM, ICRC, OCHA, and other international and local humanitarian operators.

Because of the ongoing fighting, humanitarian needs in Ukraine continue to increase, especially for people who remain in communities near the front line and on territories directly affected by active hostilities. The war has severely affected access to all basic services, such as housing, healthcare, or welfare.

As a result of the further escalation of hostilities in 2023, the number of people in need for humanitarian assistance increased drastically.

Humanitarian organizations continue to support people in Ukraine: at the end of June 2023, almost 7.3 million people received the necessary assistance and social and legal protection services. However, only 4% who received assistance live in areas under the temporary control of the Russian Federation, access to which remains extremely limited and, in many cases, impossible.

In addition to security issues and other obstacles, the work of humanitarian workers is also complicated by a lack of funding from the State budget which is heavily oriented at war-related expenses.

Ukraine - 1.2 Regulatory Departments & Quality Control

 

Quality Control

4.1 Ukraine Government Contact List

Constitution of Ukraine

With the proclamation of its independence on 24 August 1991, and the adoption of a constitution on 28 June 1996, Ukraine became a semi-presidential republic. However, in 2004, Member of Parliament introduced changes to the Constitution, which tipped the balance of power in favor of a parliamentary system. From 2004 to 2010, the legitimacy of the 2004 Constitutional amendments had official sanction, both with the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, and most major political parties. Despite this, on 30 September 2010, the Constitutional Court ruled that the amendments were null and void, forcing a return to the terms of the 1996 Constitution and again making Ukraine's political system more presidential.

President, parliament, and government

The President is elected by popular vote for a five-year term and is the formal head of state. Ukraine's legislative branch includes the 450-seat unicameral parliament, the Verkhovna Rada. The parliament is primarily responsible for the formation of the executive branch and the Cabinet of Ministers, headed by the Prime Minister. However, the President still retains the authority to nominate the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense for parliamentary approval, as well as the power to appoint the Prosecutor General and the head of the Security Service.

Laws, acts of the parliament and the cabinet, presidential decrees, and acts of the Crimean parliament may be abrogated by the Constitutional Court, should they be found to violate the constitution. Other normative acts are subject to judicial review. The Supreme Court is the main body in the system of courts of general jurisdiction. Local self-government is officially guaranteed. Local councils and city mayors are popularly elected and exercise control over local budgets. The heads of regional and district administrations are appointed by the President following the proposals of the Prime Minister.

Ukraine has a large number of political parties, many of which have tiny memberships and are unknown to the general public. Small parties often join in multi-party coalitions (electoral blocs) to participate in parliamentary elections.

Courts and law enforcement

The courts enjoy legal, financial, and constitutional freedom guaranteed by Ukrainian law since 2002. Judges are largely well protected from dismissal (except in the instance of gross misconduct). Court justices are appointed by presidential decree for an initial period of five years, after which Ukraine's Supreme Council confirms their positions for life. Although there are still problems, the system is considered to have been much improved since Ukraine's independence in 1991. The Supreme Court is regarded as an independent and impartial body and has on several occasions ruled against the Ukrainian government. The World Justice Project ranks Ukraine 76 out of 140 countries surveyed in its annual Rule of Law Index.

 

Legal proceedings in Ukraine in civil, economic, administrative, and criminal cases are carried out in the state language. A professional judge must speak the state language. The parties involved in the case submit to the court written procedural documents and evidence outlined in the state language. Persons involved in the proceedings in court shall be provided with the right to perform oral procedural actions (to make statements, give testimonies and explanations, make petitions and complaints, ask questions, etc.) in their native language or in another language in which they speak, using the services of an interpreter in the manner prescribed by the procedural legislation.

Taxation in Ukraine is regulated by the Tax Code of Ukraine and other regulatory legal acts. The competent authority exercising control over compliance with tax laws and full/timely payment of taxes is the State Tax Service of Ukraine is under the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

 

The State Tax Service of Ukraine is the central executive body in the field of taxes in Ukraine, which was created in 2019 by dividing the State Fiscal Service. The activities of the service are directed and coordinated by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine through the Minister of Finance.

The service implements:

1) state tax policy;

2) state policy on the administration of a single contribution to compulsory state social insurance;

3) state policy in the field of combating offenses during the application of tax legislation, as well as legislation on the payment of a single contribution.

 

The Ministry of Economy of Ukraine is a central executive agency that is directed by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

The Ministry of Economy of Ukraine is a system of executive power and is the main agency in the system of central executive authorities on the formation and implementation of the following: Public policies for economic and social development; Pricing; Industrial; Investment; Foreign policy; State policy in the field of trade; The state regional policy; Public policy on business development; Technical regulation (standardization, metrology, certification, quality management) and consumer protection And inter-agency coordination on economic and social cooperation between Ukraine and the European Union.

Ministers of Ukraine are specially authorized for public procurement, metrology, public-private partnerships, regulatory policy, licensing, permitting system in economic activity, and defense contracts.

The Ministry of Health of Ukraine is another important regulatory body. The State Sanitary-Epidemiology Services of Ukraine is part of the Ministry of Health and exercises control and supervision over compliance with the standards and specifications during transportation, storage, and use (operation) of non-food products. It issues hygiene certificates and other authorizing documents required by law, etc. the State Service of Ukraine for Medicines and Drug Control, which was also created under the Ministry of Health, provides permits to import into Ukraine new medical products. It also issues opinions on the quality of the imported products.

The State Border Service of Ukraine (Border Guard Service Administration) is the central executive body, whose activities are directed and coordinated by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine through the Minister of Interior and implements government policy on the protection of the state border and protection of the sovereign rights of Ukraine in its exclusive (maritime) economic zone. By the Constitution and laws of Ukraine, decrees of the President of Ukraine, and resolutions of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

The Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine is the State body responsible for issuing permits for humanitarian cargo (recognizing cargo as humanitarian).

The Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine is the main body in the system of central executive authorities to form and ensure the implementation of state policy in the following areas:

  • employment and labor migration;
  • labor relations, social protection, and social services of the population;
  • on family and children issues, rehabilitation and recreation of children, as well as protection of the rights of deported persons on a national basis who returned to Ukraine;
  • by a specially authorized central executive body on ensuring equal rights and opportunities for women and men, preventing domestic violence, and combating human trafficking;
  • the central executive body, whose powers include adoption and protection of children's rights;
  • by a specially authorized central executive body for humanitarian assistance.

 

 

On the way to association with the EU, Ukraine has already implemented and continues to implement many changes to meet the requirements. For example, this applies to quality control standards for goods and technical regulations coordinated by the Department of Technical Regulation of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine. More details can be found on the website of the Ministry.

Ukraine - 1.3 Customs Information

Duties and Tax Exemption

The Customs Code of Ukraine regulates imports and exports. This Code was adopted in March 2012 and most recently amended in March 2022. The Customs Code outlines procedures for import, exports, re-export, temporary entry and transit of goods for customs clearance, duty, excise and other customs tariffs payments, activity of customs brokers and customs bonded warehouses, etc. In addition to the Customs Code, current Ukrainian legislation on customs includes two Supplements to the Law - On Customs Duty Rates of Ukraine № 584-VII where duty rates are set forth. The main law governing import and export VAT and refund of export VAT is the Tax Code of Ukraine of December 2, 2010, Section V.

According to Ukrainian legislation, both individuals and legal entities can act as importers of record in connection with customs clearance of goods imported to Ukraine, though a business entity must be accredited with its local customs office. The procedure and list of required documents are set forth in the Procedure for Registration of Entities that Carry Out Operations with Goods. State Tax Service of Ukraine.

Prohibited to import into Ukraine:

  • drugs, narcotic and psychotropic substances;
  • cold, firearms, gas weapons without the permission of the Ministry of Internal Affairs;
  • explosive and toxic substances;
  • printed and video materials promoting violence, racism and war, pornography;
  • food products without a certificate;
  • unidentified animals;
  • cultural values declared wanted.

Also prohibited: Import into the territory of Ukraine of live pathogens (including bacteria, viruses, fungi, rickettsia, mycoplasma, other pathogenic microbes) and pathological material containing pathogens of animal diseases, with the exception of importation into the territory of Ukraine for the purpose of scientific research or for other permitted purposes.

It is prohibited to import into the territory of Ukraine veterinary drugs, feed additives, premixes and finished feeds that are not registered in accordance with the Law of Ukraine "On Veterinary Medicine."

Import to Ukraine of electric fishing systems (electric guns), monofilament (fishing line) nets, hunting traps, and other means of obtaining objects of the animal world is prohibited by law.

Customs duty must be paid by the importer upon import of the goods into Ukraine. The rates are established by the Customs Tariff. The more relevant info can be found:

8, Lvivska Ploscha, Kyiv 04655 Ukraine
Tel: +38 (044) 2726255, +38 (044) 2722956, +380 44 272-51-59
Fax: +380 44 272-08-41
E-mail: Kabmin_doc@sfs.gov.ua

HQ to insert link to the government contact list. Create the contact list by completing the 'Annex 4.1: Government Contact List' template. Once saved in the appropriate annex section, copy and paste the link here. If the contact list already exists, update it with the contact details required and paste the link directly into this section.

Ensure the file has the correct Customs Authority Focal Point information. Ensure individual focal points for each entry point are identified where possible. 

Emergency Response

[Note: This section contains information that is related and applicable to ‘crisis’ times. These instruments can be applied when an emergency is officially declared by the Government.  When this occurs, there is usually a streamlined process to import goods duty and tax-free.]

On February 24, 2022, in accordance with the Law of Ukraine "On the Legal Regime of Martial Law," martial law was introduced in Ukraine.

On March 07, 2022, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved Resolution No. 224 "On Approval of the List of Categories of Goods Recognized as Humanitarian Aid without the Procedure for Recognizing Such Goods as Humanitarian Aid in Each Case for the Period of Martial Law and Amendments to Certain Resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on Humanitarian Aid" (hereinafter - the list).

Paragraph 1 of the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated March 01, 2022 No. 174 "Some Issues of Humanitarian Aid Passing through the Customs Border of Ukraine under Martial Law" established that during the period of martial law, humanitarian aid (including humanitarian aid goods such as

  • special personal protective equipment (helmets made in accordance with military standards or technical specifications, or their equivalents and components specially designed for them (that is, sub-helmets, shock absorbers), classified in the commodity subcategory according to UKTZED 6506 10 80 00; bulletproof vests classified in the commodity subcategory according to UKTZED 6211 43 90 00), made in accordance with military standards, in particular NATO standards, or military conditions for the needs of law enforcement agencies, the Armed Forces and other military formations formed in accordance with the laws of Ukraine, other entities engaged in the fight against terrorism in accordance with the law;
  • threads for the manufacture of body armor, classified in commodity subcategories according to UKTZED 5402 11 00 00 and 5407 10 00 00;
  • fabrics (materials) for the manufacture of body armor, classified in commodity subcategories according to UKTZYeD3920 10 89 90. 3921 90 60 00. 5603 14 10 00. 6914 90 00 00)
  • unmanned aerial vehicles and their parts for civil purposes and dual use.

from donors (within the meaning of the Law of Ukraine "On Humanitarian Assistance") is carried out at the place of crossing the customs border of Ukraine by submitting in paper or electronic form a declaration filled out by the person transporting the relevant goods in the form according to Appendix 1 without applying measures of non-tariff regulation of foreign economic activity.

Goods are recognized as humanitarian aid on a declarative basis without the appropriate decision of specially authorized state bodies on humanitarian assistance.

In the following table, state which of the following agreements and conventions apply to the country and if there are any other existing ones.

 

Agreements / Conventions Description

Ratified by Country?

(Yes / No)

WCO (World Customs Organization) member

Yes

1992

Annex J-5 Revised Kyoto Convention

NO

OCHA Model Agreement

NO

Tampere Convention (on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations)

NO

Regional Agreements (on emergency/disaster response, but also customs unions, regional integration)

Association Agreement with the EU

 EU funded Programme for Prevention/

 Preparedness and Response to Natural and Man-made Disasters in the Eastern Partnership Countries

Exemption Regular Regime (Non-Emergency Response): 

Law of Ukraine "On Humanitarian Assistance" defines legal, institutional, and social principles of receiving, documentation, provision, distribution, and control over the proper use of humanitarian aid.

According to the third paragraph of Article 1 of the Law, humanitarian assistance – is the target address of free aid in cash or in kind or in the form of non-repayable financial assistance or donations or assistance in the form of works or services provided by foreign and domestic donors with humanitarian grounds for the recipients in Ukraine or abroad who need it due to social, material insecurity, difficult financial situation, state of emergency, in particular due to natural disasters, accidents, epidemics and epizootics, ecological, technological and other disasters that threaten life and health for population, or serious illness of specific individuals, as well as to prepare for armed defence of the state and its protection in case of aggression or armed conflict.

Humanitarian assistance is a kind of charity and should be sent in accordance with the circumstances, the objective requirements, the consent of the recipients and subject to the requirements of Article 3 of the Law of Ukraine "On charity and charitable organizations."

In accordance with Article 3 of the Law, the basis for the beginning of the procedure of recognition of aid as humanitarian, is the donor's written proposal for the provision.

Goods (items) imported (sent) as humanitarian aid are subject to priority-free simplified declaration to the customs authorities of Ukraine by the relevant institutions and organizations, regardless of the form of ownership, with the obligatory affixing in the shipping documents, cargo customs declarations of the stamp "Humanitarian aid. Sale is prohibited" stamped by customs officer. Institutions and organizations regardless of the form of ownership that carry out the declaration to the customs authorities of Ukraine, in case of refusal to declare goods of humanitarian aid, are deprived of the right to declare customs goods.

The cause for the implementation of humanitarian aid in Ukraine is the written consent of the recipient of humanitarian aid to receive it. The recipient of the humanitarian aid has the same rights to its use as the getter of humanitarian aid.

In accordance with paragraphs 1 and 4 of the Article 287 of the Customs Code of Ukraine, importing (sending) goods to the customs territory of Ukraine determined in accordance with the Law of Ukraine "On Humanitarian Assistance" as humanitarian aid are exempt from import duty tax. Customs clearance is carried out by the customs authorities of Ukraine without paying customs duties.

Organizations/entities/persons which can be recognized as “recipient of humanitarian aid” are listed in the Law of Ukraine dated November 8th, 2023 No. № 3448-IX.

This Law also contains the definition of “beneficiary” of humanitarian aid - individuals and legal entities in need of assistance and to whom it is directly provided.

In addition, paragraph 197.11 of the Article 197 of the Tax Code of Ukraine established that the import into the customs territory of Ukraine things as international technical assistance provided in accordance with international agreements of Ukraine, consent to be bound by the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) of Ukraine, as well as the humanitarian aid provided in accordance with the provisions of the Law of Ukraine "On Humanitarian Assistance" shall be exempt from taxation the value-added tax.

Basic procedure

Martial Law procedure

The decision on recognition of goods, funds, etc. as humanitarian aid is adopted by the abovementioned Ministry on the basis of information provided by the central bodies of executive authority of Ukraine (Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Internal Affairs, National Police, Security Service, SESU, State Customs Service) and the National Bank of Ukraine at a meeting of the relevant working group within 8 working days upon receipt of the relevant documents by the Ministry of Social Policy (provided by a recipient of an aid in Ukraine). Documents on recognition of the humanitarian assistance intended for social support of citizens of Ukraine who are moving from the temporary occupied territory of Ukraine and the area of active warfare, for the Armed Forces, State Border Service, and other legal national military units are to be processed in a priority manner, and, as a rule, transferred to the customs authorities within 1 day.

Since December 1st, 2023 new registration procedure of recipients of humanitarian aid is adopted according to Regulation of Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No 953 dated September 5th, 2023:

“2. Formation and/or submission of a declaration on the list of goods recognized as humanitarian aid in the form according to Annex 1 (hereinafter - the declaration) is carried out in electronic form through the unified state information web portal "Single Window for International Trade" or through the automated system of registration of humanitarian aid (hereinafter - the automated system), the processes of which are determined by the Regulations on the automated system of registration of humanitarian aid, approved by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of October 9, 2020 No. 927 "Some issues of registration of humanitarian aid".

Registration of the recipient in the Unified Register, entering information on the list of goods recognized as humanitarian aid, forming and/or submitting an inventory of humanitarian aid in the form according to Annex 2 (hereinafter referred to as the inventory), forming and/or submitting a report on the availability and distribution of humanitarian aid in the form according to Annex 3 (hereinafter referred to as the report) shall be carried out using an automated system and taking into account the peculiarities determined by this Procedure.

3. A person acquires the status of a recipient from the moment of automatic registration in the Unified Register, which is carried out by assigning a recipient number to the recipient of humanitarian aid in accordance with the procedure determined by the Regulation on the automated system.

Entering information on the list of goods recognized as humanitarian aid into the automated system and assigning a unique humanitarian aid code certifies that the goods are recognized as humanitarian aid.

Customs clearance of humanitarian aid is carried out at the location of its recipient.

Humanitarian aid is allowed to cross the customs border of Ukraine and its customs clearance is carried out at checkpoints across the state border of Ukraine without applying non-tariff regulation of foreign economic activity by submitting a declaration in the manner prescribed by Procedure adopted by Regulation No.953.

The main documents to be provided by a Ukrainian organization–recipient of an aid:

  • an application with the details of the cargo, its quantity, and weight, information about the sender (donor) and the country of the cargo’s origin;
  • written proposal from a donor to donate the humanitarian aid (donation letter);
  • an invoice;
  • a list of recipients of the aid;
  • other documents (if necessary) to indicate: expiration date for food, hygiene products; disinfection and condition of second-hand products etc.

The main documents to be provided by a Ukrainian organization–recipient of an aid:

  • Electronic declaration;
  • primary documents: invoice, packing list, CMR, certificates etc.

 

The recommended list of documents can be found on the official website of the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine (https://www.msp.gov.ua/en/).

Reporting

According to the Article 12 of the Regulation No. 953 dd September 5th, 2023:

“The recipient, except for recipients of medical humanitarian aid, by the 15th day of the month following the month in which the date of entering information on the customs clearance of humanitarian aid under the declaration is indicated, generates and submits a report in the electronic cabinet of the automated system or uploads a copy of the paper report signed by the head or person responsible for accounting, or a copy of the report in electronic form with the qualified electronic signature of the head or person responsible for accounting.

The report shall be submitted by the 15th day of each month following the reporting month, on a cumulative basis, separately for each list of goods recognized as humanitarian aid imported into the customs territory of Ukraine until its full distribution.”

Humanitarian aid goods (items) that cannot be used for their intended purpose may be returned to the donor in accordance with the procedure established by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine at the expense of the donor.

Violation of legislation

Recipients of humanitarian aid who have violated the requirements of the legislation on humanitarian aid shall lose the status of recipient of humanitarian aid in accordance with the procedure established by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

Related legislation (the list is not exhaustive and is subject to change)

Law of Ukraine "On Humanitarian Aid"

Regulation dated September 5, 2023 No. 953

Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on Importation, Accounting, Distribution of Humanitarian Aid, Peculiarities of Taxation of Relevant Transactions and Reporting” No. 3448-IX dated November 8th, 2023

Parliamentary website with legislation related to humanitarian aid Законодавство України (rada.gov.ua)