Cabinet Approves Fines for Not Wearing Masks in Public Buildings. Previously, Citizens Could Be Fined 17,000 Hryvnias

But for legal entities it will be significantly higher.

Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers has initiated changes to the system of fines for individuals and legal entities for being in public buildings and on transport without protective masks worn by visitors and passengers during quarantine. The reason is a sharp rise in coronavirus infections in Ukraine in recent weeks.

The proposal to change the fine system was initiated by Justice Minister Denys Maliuska and approved by members of the government. For individuals, fines will be from 170 to 255 hryvnias, and for legal entities — 3,400-5,100 UAH, according to the official website of the Ministry of Justice.

“We are establishing special responsibility for refusing to wear masks for citizens of Ukraine, and separately, responsibility for legal entities: owners of houses, structures and public transport, who are obliged to admit citizens to these premises only if they have masks.”

Denys Maliuska
Minister of Justice of Ukraine

At the same time, fines for individuals will be significantly reduced. Under the general quarantine rules currently in force, the fine for citizens for not wearing a mask is 17,000 hryvnias. Instead, the bill provides for a fine of 10 to 15 non-taxable minimum incomes of citizens — that is, only 170-255 UAH. The fine for officials remains unchanged. At the same time, for legal entities the fines will be increased to 200 to 300 non-taxable minimum incomes of citizens (from 3,400 to 5,100 UAH).

In March, Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada provided for punishment for violating quarantine rules, setting fines of 17,000-34,000 hryvnias and 34,000-170,000 UAH for officials. After this sanctions system was introduced, some citizens were fined 17,000 UAH during the quarantine period for being in public places without a mask.

In recent weeks, Ukraine has seen a rise in the number of people infected with COVID-19. As of the morning of July 1, almost 45,000 cases of infection have been recorded, of which 1,173 were fatal and 19,548 were recovered patients.