Deputy Director of the STS Department Victoria Kasyan reported that only one audit of airlines revealed a reclassification of lease payments into royalties. The BES is investigating criminal cases against five air carriers for non-payment of 15% royalties.
Ukrainian airlines are forced to pay additional taxes for aircraft leasing over the past seven years due to a new interpretation of taxation. The Bureau of Economic Security has opened criminal proceedings against a number of carriers.
The State Tax Service interprets lease payments for aircraft as royalties, although it concerns the use of vehicles, not the transfer of intellectual property rights. Because of this, Ukrainian airlines are already facing criminal proceedings and the risk of retrospective additional charges.
The interpretation of aircraft leasing as royalties by the State Tax Service and the BEB contradicts the principles of applying international conventions on the avoidance of double taxation. International tax law expert Olena Kuznechikova emphasizes that the problem should be resolved by an official clarification from the Ministry of Finance, not by criminal prosecution of businesses.
Attempts to retroactively charge Ukrainian airlines 15% royalties for aircraft leasing could lead to the bankruptcy of most market players. The Aerospace Association of Ukraine calls on the state to ensure legal certainty on the issue.
Ukraine increased its defense budget to a record UAH 4. 4 trillion for 2026, having received the first tranche of EUR 3.9 billion from the EU for drones. At the same time, the Bureau of Economic Security is putting pressure on airlines, which paid UAH 702 million in taxes in 2025.
The Bureau of Economic Security is investigating criminal proceedings against five Ukrainian airlines over aircraft leasing. Experts warn that treating lease payments as royalties contradicts international law.
The Tax Committee of the Verkhovna Rada found statistical errors and manipulations in the BEB report for 2025. Deputies noted the low effectiveness of investigations, with only 13% of cases reaching court.
Ukraine's aviation industry paid a record UAH 702 million in taxes in 2025, despite the closed sky. Due to criminal cases by the Bureau of Economic Security (BEB) regarding aircraft leasing and a decline in profitability, businesses risk leaving Ukrainian jurisdiction.
In the first five months of 2026, owners of luxury cars paid UAH 140. 2 million in tax, which is 47.1% more than last year. The most funds came from Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, and Lviv regions.
The aviation industry paid a record 702 million UAH in taxes despite a critical drop in profits. The ESBU is exerting pressure on companies over tax disputes regarding leasing.
In 2025, the aviation industry transferred over UAH 702 million to the budget, marking a record for the past eight years. Passenger carriers paid the largest share.
The Rada has approved the taxation of income earned through online platforms at a rate of 10%. Services are expected to automatically report on users' earnings.
In 2026, an apartment gift agreement requires notarization and payment of state duty. A zero tax rate applies to close relatives.
SAPO has completed the case regarding the former head of the State Tax Service and a 147 million hryvnia scheme. Over 200 companies were used to minimize taxes through bribes.
Aviation could become a driver of Ukraine's post-war economic development. Currently, the industry is facing pressure from the ESBU due to attempts to tax transport leasing as royalties.
A tax inspector in the Sumy region was served a notice of suspicion for participating in a 2 million UAH scheme. He assisted his superior in extorting money from a business in exchange for a successful audit.
Economist Andriy Novak identified aviation and the agricultural sector as key to recovery. Pressure from the ESBU on airlines regarding leasing threatens the industry's survival.
The ESBU is persecuting airlines by reclassifying aircraft leasing as royalties. Investigators are ignoring court rulings and international tax conventions.
According to the court ruling, detective Magamedrasulov and Khrystenko organized a mechanism for extorting an undue benefit from Volodymyr Slonchak, whose voice was featured on the tapes in the Komarnytskyi case.
The ESBU has opened cases against airlines for non-payment of royalties for aircraft leasing, despite the fact that courts have previously concluded that such an interpretation of tax regulations is illegal.
During the first four months of 2026, local budgets received 112 million UAH in tourist tax. The leaders in terms of revenue were the Lviv region and Kyiv.
Courts have prohibited the State Tax Service from interpreting vehicle leasing as royalties and assessing taxes. This applies to the leasing of railcars, aircraft, and agricultural machinery.
During the first four months of 2026, budgets received UAH 73. 5 million in parking fees. This is 12.3% more than last year, with the Odesa region emerging as the leader.
Ukraine's civil and military aviation function as a single ecosystem with shared specialists. Pressure from the ESBU on airlines threatens to reduce the state's defense capabilities.
Civil and military aviation share common technologies and repair facilities. Pressure from the ESBU (Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine) on airlines creates risks for the country's defense capabilities.
Accumulated funds under the program can be used until June 30, 2026. The maximum payout amount is 3,000 hryvnias per month.
The Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine (ESBU) is demanding that airlines pay leasing taxes as if they were royalties. This threatens to destroy the infrastructure for servicing military aircraft.
As a result of the night shelling of Dnipro on May 18, the administrative building of the tax service was damaged. The blast wave blew out windows; there were no casualties.
The Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine (ESBU) interprets aircraft leasing as royalties, introducing a 15% tax. This threatens airlines with bankruptcy and risks halting the repair of AFU military equipment.
