"You guys are assholes." Zelensky joins truckers' chat discussing bypassing weigh stations

He recorded a video and cursed out drivers for damaging roads with overloaded trucks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky joined the truckers' Viber chat "HVK. Weight Control", where drivers discuss roads that can be used to bypass weight control checkpoints. For truckers, the president sent a video message

Journalist Serhiy Hryshyn posted a screenshot from the chat, as well as the video itself, on Facebook. In it, Zelensky noted that drivers who try to bypass the checkpoints with overloaded trucks are damaging roads that are being built, among other things, as part of the "Big Construction" programme.

Volodymyr Zelensky,
President of Ukraine

"You made me and everyone else laugh. But I'd like to tell you guys that you're all assholes. We're here trying to do something good for the country, and you... well, you can't help, because you're incapable. But at least don't get in the way, okay? Because we'll find all the chats anyway, and we'll find you too. And it will hurt."

The "Big Construction" programme launched in March this year. Over the course of the year, the government plans to build 4,000 kilometres of roads. The programme was presented by Oleksiy Honcharuk when he was prime minister.

This year, a full system of dimensional and weight control on Ukraine's roads is also due to become operational. Six automatic systems were installed in test mode back in autumn 2019. Infrastructure Minister Vladyslav Krykliy stated in February that 25 complexes would be installed this year on roads of state significance, mainly near bridges over the Dnipro and ports.

For exceeding dimensional and weight limits by 5-10%, the vehicle owner will be fined 500 non-taxable minimum incomes (UAH 8,500); 10-20% – 1,000 minimums (UAH 17,000); more than 20% – 2,000 minimums (UAH 34,000).