Scandals, life risks, but high demand – shadow buses connect Ukraine and Finland
Although Ukrainian regulations impose fines of up to €800 for operating without a passenger transport permit, the illegal transit market between Ukraine and Finland continues to grow. PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK
Svitlana Yeharmina
Published 20.11.2024 11:27
Updated 22.11.2024 12:58
When the bus driver ordered the passengers to duck, Victoria feared that gunfire might follow. It was around 10 PM, their minibus was approaching the ferry terminal in Tallin. Around ten people in a Mercedes Sprinter were travelling from Ukraine to Finland.
Moments later, Victoria overheard the driver claiming to an inspector that he was driving the bus alone. Victoria stood up and informed that there were others on board. The police were called, and a violation report was filed. The driver had been trying to sneak passengers onto the ferry without tickets.
The incident happened in early August, and an investigation is ongoing.
Passengers worry they may be seen as accomplices, even though they had paid the driver for the ferry tickets. But they lack proof – they weren’t issued any travel documents.
The situation is difficult. That is why Victoria does not appear in this article with her full name. She fears a backlash from the driver.
A shadow market
Such incidents have become familiar to the Ukrainian community. In the past two and a half years, an unregulated bus market has emerged in routes between Finland and Ukraine.
The market is seasonal, with more operators appearing during peak times like holidays and harvest season. Beyond trips home, “passport tours” are also popular – journeys to Warsaw or Berlin for document processing. Apart from passengers, the buses also deliver parcels.
The carriers are mainly operated by Ukrainians. The service may consist only of a minibus and a driver. The drivers may rent or own the bus themselves, or work for someone that operates several buses.
Information about the routes is posted in social media groups. On Facebook alone, Satakieli found at least three groups offering just transport services for Ukrainians in Finland. The largest, “Transport, Rides, Parcels — Ukraine-Finland,” has over 14,500 members and posts from 20 operators. Many operators also have Viber and Telegram channels with large followings. The rides are also advertised in other groups for Ukrainians in Finland.
After a person shows interest for a ride, the exact details of departure are shared via phone or direct message. There are no tickets; payment to a bank card serves as a proof or by paying with cash during boarding.
Shadow operators mean risks for the passengers
Officially, these services do not exist. Satakieli checked with Traficom and found out that there are no companies registered for regular bus services between Finland and Ukraine.
Some of the carriers are registered in Ukraine and have one-off permits for non-scheduled routes, but they do not have the EU-licence to provide regular transport services between Ukraine and Finland.
Most of the carriers operate without any company structure. When there are no registered companies, there are also no regulations or oversight. This affects service quality and safety.
The drivers may work long shifts without rest. Some have only minimal experiences. The buses are not necessarily maintained as they should. It’s common for buses to lack for example first-aid kits and other safety equipment.
Some operators use vehicles not intended for passengers. In Victoria’s case, it turned out that the bus was registered as a cargo vehicle in Ukraine. Its intended use was transporting deceased persons, for example in funeral services.
All of this increases the accident risk. Reports of accidents involving Ukrainian passengers in Poland are becoming more frequent in Ukrainian media.
And should something happen, an illegal operator cannot have an insurance to cover the damage to the passengers and their property. The passengers are often left on their own – sometimes literally.
Ukrainian Yelyzaveta Haidamaka tells about a case, where she and her 1,5-year-old-child traveling to Kyiv were forced to disembark at Lviv, pay extra and wait for another bus despite they had paid for a direct connection.
When the next bus finally arrived, there was no room for Haidamaka and her child. On top of that the operator took their luggage. When Haidamaka complained about the situation, the answer was simple: “Oh, sorry, we can’t do anything.”
Why so many are willing to take the risk?
In their response to Satakieli, Traficom stated that they were unaware of the illegal passenger market. In theory, the police should handle transport violations, but they can do it only if clients report illegal services.
However, Ukrainians rarely complain to officials.
Many just don’t think of the risks, as informal transport services are common in Ukraine. It is also difficult to check background of a carrier. Ukraine’s regulator has just begun adding operator and route info to an online platform.
Many also genuinely prefer the unofficial carriers to big official ones, such as FlixBus. Small operators offer direct routes and have connected dozens of Finnish and Ukrainian cities in the past 2 years. They also allow more luggage, offer child discounts, and wait for delayed passengers. Speaking Ukrainian also builds trust.
By comparison, FlixBus requires ticket purchases through an app and communicates via bots. Their routes to Ukraine often require one or two transfers, and delays at the border can lead to missed connections.
A ticket to Ukraine with unofficial carrier typically costs around €180 to €200. While FlixBus tickets can be half the price if bought in advance, most frequent travellers choose small operators, saying trips in 10-15-seat buses are more comfortable than large coaches.
The Facebook group changed, says the admin
Denys Pertsev is a community admin of the biggest of the Facebook groups where the operators post information of routes and schedules. Despite the group being full of adverts from different carriers, he claims that the purpose of the group is only to help people organize trips and share costs.
Petrsev says that the group has changed from what it originally was, and the admins don’t have the authority to verify the post authors and are not responsible for their activities. He however recalls removing five operators from the group: one for setting fire to a rival’s bus, one for supporting Russian aggression, and three due to passenger complaints.
However, the operator involved in the ferry incident still advertises in the group, while Victoria’s first post complaining was deleted.
Satakieli was able to identify the operator. It is run by a private entrepreneur from Ukraine named Volodymyr. He says that he has apologized to the passengers and fired the driver responsible for the incident in Tallinn.
Despite running trips between Finland and Ukraine on weekly basis, Volodymyr classifies his activity as irregular passenger transport with a flexible route, meaning he would not require a permit from the Finnish regulator. He also claims that he has insurance for the buses, and that he was not aware that he would need an insurance for the passengers as well.
According to Volodymyr, the Mercedes Sprinter used in the incident involving Victoria, is owned by his mother. He says that he is surprised to hear that the car is registered as a cargo vehicle. According to him, the vehicle’s technical passport indicates it is a passenger bus.
A lot of details in Volodymyr’s story can’t be verified. The newest data from the Ukrainian online company verification system YouControl states, that as of 2022, two Volkswagen minibuses were under Volodymyr’s use. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian officials list that the Mercedes Sprinter has three owners. In Ukrainian legislation, the officials are not required to give out the identities of the owners.
During his conversation with Satakieli, Volodymyr promised that he would make the necessary corrections and comply with all requirements.
The article has been modified on 22.11.2024 at 11.54. Clarified the wording about Facebook groups that provide rides and added information that rides are also provided in other groups.