Uklon, the ride‑hailing arm of VEON’s Kyivstar Group, has added a new “Travel” service to its mobile application. The beta launch, announced on March 25 2026, lets users search for and purchase domestic and international bus tickets directly within the familiar Uklon interface, selecting departure and destination cities, travel dates, and carrier options in a single flow.
The move comes as Uklon’s user base and revenue run rate continue to grow. The company now serves 3.8 million monthly active users and reports an annualized revenue run rate of $100 million. In 2025 Uklon generated $101 million in revenue, up from $65 million in 2024, and delivered 43.6 million rides and 1.3 million deliveries in Q4 2025, underscoring the scale of its core operations.
Strategically, the expansion fits VEON’s broader Digital Operator vision, which seeks to transform the group from a telecom operator into a full‑service digital ecosystem. Kyivstar’s acquisition of Uklon in March 2025 for $155.2 million positioned the company as a key pillar of that strategy. The launch also responds to a unique market opportunity in Ukraine, where air travel is largely unavailable and rail capacity is strained, creating demand for alternative intercity and cross‑border transport options.
CEO Serhii Hryshkov said the new service is “a natural next step in building the Uklon ecosystem” and that “with air travel unavailable and rail capacity under pressure, we are giving users a simple way to plan and book trips within Ukraine and to Europe through the same app they already use every day.” The comments highlight the company’s intent to deepen user engagement and capture a larger share of transportation spend per user.
The beta phase will run for an undisclosed period before a full rollout, and the service currently covers domestic routes and select international destinations in Europe. While the article does not list specific competitors, the move positions Uklon against established bus‑ticketing platforms and other mobility services in the region.
By adding bus ticketing, Uklon is not only diversifying its revenue streams but also reinforcing its ecosystem play, which could translate into higher customer lifetime value and increased platform stickiness. The expansion signals a strategic pivot toward a broader mobility offering that aligns with both market demand and the parent company’s digital transformation agenda.
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