From November 2026, new rules on the conscription of persons liable for military service will come into force in Ukraine, whilst banking restrictions for sole traders and the conditions for shipping goods to the European Union will change. Small businesses will be eligible for a grant of up to 30,000 hryvnias to purchase energy-efficient equipment, whilst parents of Year 1 pupils have a final opportunity to apply for the «Schoolchild’s Pack». Meanwhile, heating is gradually being switched on in towns and cities, and the process of applying for winter housing subsidies for citizens is ongoing. UkrMedia has compiled the key changes and deadlines to bear in mind in November.
- Energy and defence companies are permitted to retain up to 95% employees.
- The second phase of payments to businesses of up to 30,000 hryvnias begins on 2 November.
- In towns and cities, heating is gradually being switched on in residential buildings.
- The deadline for applications for the «Schoolchild’s Pack» is 1 November.
- You can apply for a subsidy from the start of the season until 30 November.
- From 14 November, the transfer limits for sole traders will change.
- Commercial parcels to the EU will be processed under new rules.
Staff retention: new restrictions for the energy sector and the defence industry
Updated rules on the conscription of employees at critical enterprises will come into force in November. The Cabinet of Ministers adopted the relevant decision on 23 October.
The following have been established for enterprises in the fuel and energy sector and the defence industry: maximum booking limit up to 95% employees subject to military service. At the same time, staff directly involved in production, the fulfilment of defence contracts, and emergency and restoration work must remain protected.
The Government has also instructed the relevant ministries and regional military administrations to review the sectoral and regional criteria for determining the criticality of enterprises.
It is important to note that updating the criteria does not automatically result in the cancellation of previously issued bookings or the loss of ‘critical business’ status. If the criteria on the basis of which a company was granted this status remain valid, there is no need for re-confirmation simply because new rules have been introduced.
Support for business owners: up to 30,000 hryvnias for generators
The second phase of the programme to support energy independence for small businesses will run from 2 to 27 November. Entrepreneurs can apply for a grant to purchase generators, charging stations, inverters, batteries and other backup power equipment.
The amount of the grant depends on the number of officially employed staff:
- 15,000 UAH — between one and four employees.
- 20 000 UAH — between five and seven employees.
- 30 000 UAH — between eight and ten employees.
The programme is intended for FOP and relevant small businesses registered by 1 April 2026 that meet the established requirements regarding employment, payment of the unified social contribution and the absence of tax arrears.
Applications are submitted via the «Diya» portal. In the second stage, provided there are funds remaining, entrepreneurs who have already received similar support during the year may also join the programme.
The funds received may only be used to support business activities. They must not be used to purchase equipment for personal use.
The heating season: when will the heating come on in the flats?
In November, Ukrainian towns and cities will continue to connect residential buildings to the district heating network. Decisions are usually made on the basis of the average daily air temperature: the benchmark is +8°C or below for three consecutive days.
In Kyiv, social care facilities began to be connected to the heating network back in October. As of 30 October, 157 healthcare facilities, 402 nurseries and 85 schools had been supplied with heating. The supply of heating to residential buildings in the capital was scheduled to begin on 2 November.
In Lviv, the heating season also began at the end of October. Homes are being connected to the heating network gradually, whilst schools, nurseries and hospitals were able to receive heating earlier upon individual request.
The dates for the start of the heating season vary depending on the city, weather conditions and the state of the energy infrastructure, which continues to come under Russian attack.
«Schoolchildren’s Pack»: the last day to apply for 5,000 hryvnias
1 November is the deadline for submitting applications for the «Schoolchild’s Pack» state aid scheme. The scheme provides for a one-off payment of 5,000 hryvnias to families whose children are starting school for the first time in 2026.
Either parent or the child’s legal guardian may apply for the benefit. If there are two Year 1 pupils in the family, the payment is made for each of them separately.
You can submit your application via the «Diya» app or by contacting a service centre of the Pension Fund of Ukraine.
The funds are paid into a special account and are intended for the purchase of school clothing, footwear, stationery, books and other essential items for children.
Subsidies: you can apply for payments dating back to the start of the season until 30 November
The Pension Fund continues to award housing benefits for the 2026–2027 heating season.
For most citizens who have already been receiving the benefit, the payment amount is adjusted automatically. There is no need to resubmit documents unless the circumstances affecting entitlement to the subsidy have changed.
Those applying for a subsidy for the first time must submit an application and a declaration of income. Citizens whose household composition has changed or who find themselves in other circumstances requiring a new allocation should also apply.
If you submit your documents by 30 November inclusive, the subsidy will be granted from the start of the heating season. From 1 December, it will be calculated from the month in which the application is made.
You can apply for the benefit through the Pension Fund, the Centre for Administrative Services, authorised community representatives or online.
Bank transfers: restrictions on certain sole traders to be tightened from 14 November
From 14 November, banks that have signed up to the updated Memorandum on Payment Market Transparency will reduce the monthly limits on automatic transfers for certain categories of high-risk entrepreneurs and legal entities.
The new thresholds will be as follows:
- For new or recently reactivated sole traders in the first group — 400,000 hryvnias per month instead of 600,000.
- For sole traders in the second and third groups — 1 million hryvnias instead of 3 million.
- For legal entities exhibiting the characteristics of shell companies — 2 million hryvnias instead of 5 million.
This does not mean a general ban on transferring larger sums. Transactions exceeding the set thresholds will require additional verification and documentary evidence.
This change does not mean that limits will automatically be reduced for all sole traders or ordinary citizens. Banks will focus primarily on high-risk customers, particularly those who have recently registered a business or resumed operations after a long hiatus.
Parcels to the EU: a new €2 charge and additional requirements
From 1 November, the following changes will come into effect customs clearance rules commercial parcels sent by Ukrainian sellers to buyers in European Union countries.
An additional fee for customs clearance is being introduced — €2 per product category in accordance with the customs code, as specified in the declaration. It will operate separately from the €3 customs duty that the EU introduced earlier for small commercial consignments.
In addition, sellers must provide additional digital identifiers for their goods. When arranging shipments via Ukrposhta, the seller’s code and the manufacturer’s or product’s internal identifier are mandatory.
The new rules primarily apply to online shops, sole traders and marketplace sellers who make commercial consignments to the EU. These requirements do not apply to ordinary private parcels that are not related to the sale of goods.
