Ukrposhta

History

Ukrposhta operated within the Soviet Ministry of Telecommunications (Administration of Postal Communication, ) as its republican branch on territory of the Ukrainian SSR and was centered in Moscow. The Ukrainian SSR did not have a separate system of telecommunications and was completely integrated within the Soviet system of telecommunications. As part of the Gorbachev reforms (perestroika and decentralization, see Union of Sovereign States), in 1991, Ukrtelecom was created in Soviet Ukraine which took over administration of all means of communication such as postal and signal.

In 1994 Ukrposhta started to operate as a separate business entity following the restructuring of Ukrtelecom, after which Ukrposhta has been providing postal service, while Ukrtelecom has been providing telephone and telegraph services.

In July 1998, Ukrposhta was reformed again on a government request.

It is currently managed by the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine decrees.

Ukrposhta's activities are regulated by the Law of Ukraine "On Postal Service" (in force since 4 October 2001) and other laws including regulations of the UPU.

In 2022, JSC "Ukrposhta" directed over 150 million UAH to humanitarian and charitable needs: support for business relocation and business support, delivery of important humanitarian cargoes (over a thousand 20-ton trucks), joint with Ukrzaliznytsia payments to passengers of evacuation trains, transferring AFU equipment, military gear, generators, medications, etc., supporting educational projects and helping animals.

In July 2023, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) reallocated part of a previously allocated loan to enhance the operational resilience of "Ukrposhta." €22.7 million will go towards the purchase of over 5000 electric bicycles and about 350 trucks.

In April 2024, it was reported that Ukrposhta is selling 531 units of outdated transport — cars, trucks, trailers, semi-trailers, tractors — on the ProZorro platform.

On May 9, 2024, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine supported bill No. 8423, which allows "Ukrposhta" employees to carry and use firearms for the protection of postal funds and facilities from attacks.

Structure

'In 2016 Ukrposhta revealed company overview and statistics of 2015:

• 27 Regional administrative directories;

• 12 000 post offices (including 9 000 in rural areas);

• 73 000 employees (Postmen – 32.0; operators −13.7; Sorters – 2.6)

• 200.9 million of postal items annual processing and delivery, including: :15.4 million insured items; :11.1 million orders; :74.0 million pensions delivered;

• Direct fetching to 15 million subscriber mailboxes;

• Subscription distribution: 500.7 million copies a year;

• Transporting 31 tons annually; total vehicles' mileage covering 72 million km;

Impact of events in 2014

Main article: Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation

The events of 2014 narrowed the scope of the company's geographical activities: in April of 2014, Ukrposhta ceased operations in the Crimea and Sevastopol, and in December left the territories of the unrecognized DPR and LPR. On the basis of its infrastructure in these regions, the “Post of Crimea” (from April 21), “Post of Donbass” (from December 2) and “LNR Post” appeared respectively. For reference, as of the beginning of 2014, Ukrposhta had 553 post offices and 221 vehicles to transport mail to Crimea. About 4.7 thousand people, or about 5% of its workforce, were involved in the directorates of Ukrposhta on the peninsula.

Starting from March 27, 2014, postal items sent by "Ukrposhta" from the mainland of Ukraine are not accepted by the postal service of Crimea and Sevastopol and are returned. Under these circumstances, "Ukrposhta" is not able to forward postal items to the Crimean Peninsula. Given the current situation, Ukrposhta has suspended the acceptance of postal items to Crimea.

References

References

1. [https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/economic/338837.html Cabinet appoints Ihor Smiliansky head of Ukrposhta], ''[[Interfax-Ukraine]] en.interfax.com.ua'' (20 April 2016)
2. (2023-07-14). "Ukrposhta in 2022 directed over ₴150 million to charity".
3. Vira Kasian. (2023-07-12). "Ukrposhta will buy 5000 electric bicycles".
4. Vanora Bennett. (2023-07-12). "EBRD reallocates €22.7 million loan to Ukrainian postal service Ukrposhta".
5. "From Mercedes Benz to Hyundai. Smiliansky puts over 500 Ukrposhta vehicles up for sale".
6. [https://enovosty.com/uk/news-ukr/news_society-ukr/full/0905-pracivnikam-ukrposhti-dozvolili-mati-zbroyu Employees of Ukrposhta are allowed to have weapons. 05.09.2024, 21:09]