Electric scooters in Ukraine: legal status, rules of use and liability

Electric scooters, gyro-scooters, monowheels and other types of light electric transport are now an integral part of road traffic in Ukraine. They are used not only for leisure but also as a fully-fledged means of transport for both short and medium distances around town. In large cities, these modes of transport offer a convenient way to avoid traffic jams and save time.

However, the rapid spread of electric scooters has brought to light a number of legal and practical issues. Conflicts have become increasingly common on roads and in pedestrian areas between users of electric transport, car drivers, pedestrians and cyclists. Some users of electric transport do not pay sufficient attention to, or disregard, basic safety rules: they travel too fast, carry passengers, are distracted by their phones whilst riding, or take to the road without sufficient experience.

This raises the pressing issue of regulating the legal status of electric scooters and other forms of electric transport, the rules governing their use, and the responsibilities of riders. An electric scooter is not merely a form of entertainment; it is a vehicle that can pose risks to all road users.

The legal status of electric scooters in Ukraine

Regulation of light electric vehicles in Ukraine has only recently begun to take shape. A decisive step was the adoption of Law of Ukraine No. 2956-IX of 24 February 2023, which enshrined in law new provisions relating to the use of low-power electric vehicles. In particular, the text of the document divided light electric transport into two official categories: light personal electric vehicles and low-speed light electric vehicles. In addition to classifying these vehicles, the law has also significantly simplified the conditions for business development in the light electric transport sector.

A light personal electric vehicle is defined as a wheeled vehicle with one, two, three or four wheels, which are propelled exclusively by an electric motor, have a power output of no more than 1,000 W and a maximum speed of up to 25 km/h. This category includes most electric scooters, monowheels, electric skateboards, gyroboards and gyroscooters.

Low-speed light electric vehicles are specifically defined in the law. They are characterised by a mass of up to 600 kg and the ability to reach speeds of between 10 and 50 km/h.

From a legal perspective, users of these types of vehicles are considered drivers, not pedestrians, and are obliged to comply with the relevant safety rules.

Although electric scooters are officially recognised as vehicles and their users as de facto road users, the current legislative framework remains incomplete and raises many questions, as the rules governing their use, and the rights and obligations of users, still need to be clearly defined and detailed in the Highway Code; consequently, in practice, the rules for their use on roads, cycle paths and in pedestrian zones remain insufficiently clarified.

A legislative loophole

E-scooters, monowheels and other similar modes of transport are recognised as vehicles; however, they have not yet been classified as a separate category with their own specific rules in the Highway Code. This means that users of electric scooters and other such modes of transport are not exempt from road traffic regulations; on the contrary, they are full participants in road traffic, and are therefore obliged to comply with the general requirements of the Highway Code, in particular to ride safely and not to endanger others.

As the Law of Ukraine ‘On Road Traffic’ obliges all road users to be aware of and comply with the requirements of the legislation in this area, the Highway Code and other regulatory acts, a user of an electric scooter cannot cite the absence of a separate section in the Highway Code for this type of transport as a justification for disregarding the general rules of the road.

At the same time, it is precisely the absence of specific regulations that creates significant practical difficulties, namely: the lack of regulation regarding where they may be ridden, age restrictions, maximum speed limits and the mandatory use of personal protective equipment; to address these issues, Bill No. 3023 has been before the Verkhovna Rada for quite some time. It aims to establish clear rules for users of light personal electric vehicles, as well as to legally define their rights and obligations alongside pedestrians and other road users.

Ukraine has already taken the first step by recognising light electric vehicles as part of road traffic; however, the next steps must involve creating clear and practical rules for users of electric vehicles, pedestrians, car drivers and rental services. In 2026, new legislative initiatives in the field of small electric vehicles also emerged: Draft Law No. 15284 ‘On the Specifics of Using Small Electric Vehicles in Ukraine’ and the related Draft Law No. 15283 on administrative liability for offences.

Where can you ride an electric scooter?

Where exactly should electric scooters be ridden? This is one of the most complex and pressing issues. Today, riders find themselves caught between a rock and a hard place: if they ride on the road alongside cars, they put themselves at risk, but if they use the pavement, the danger shifts to pedestrians.

Read the full article on the “Yurydychna Gazeta” website here.