Ukrzaliznytsia losses from failure to keep grain cargo safe increases by 4.5-fold in H1 2021 – expert

KYIV. Sept 15 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Losses received by JSC Ukrzaliznytsia due to failure to keep grain cargo safe in the first half of 2021, increased 4.5 times compared to the same period in 2020, from UAH 0.91 million to UAH 4.1 million, Deputy Director of the marketing department of Ukrzaliznytsia Valeriy Tkachev wrote on his Facebook page.

At the same time, the share of such goods of the total losses due to failure to keep Ukrzaliznytsia’s goods safe was 23%. It was noted at a meeting on the safety of transported goods held on September 14, in which representatives of the paramilitary security services of Ukrzaliznytsia and cargo owners took part in an effort to develop joint plan to combat with the theft of goods along the way, Tkachev said.

"Grain cargo took the second place in the losses of Ukrzaliznytsia from failure to keep goods safe with a share of 23%! Coal and coke remain in the first place, the share of which in the losses decreased from 89% to 60%," the deputy director of the Ukrzaliznytsia department wrote.

In general, the total amount of losses of Ukrzaliznytsia from failure to keep goods safe in January-June 2021 decreased by some 30% compared to the first half of 2020, to UAH 17.8 million. The decrease in the total loss from failure to keep goods safe for the specified period was due to a decrease in losses during the transportation of coal and coke, which in the first half of 2021 decreased by 54.6%, to UAH 10.73 million.

According to the published data, in the first half of 2021, the number of reports on failure to keep goods, for which Ukrzaliznytsia is responsible, safe grew by 8.1% compared to January-June 2020, to 3,530 reports.

"Out of 4,180 materials reports on failure to keep goods safe sent to the National Police, 220 reports (5%) were denied in criminal proceedings, 1,670 reports (40%) received no response and criminal cases were not open. Think about the numbers! 45% of the collected materials on the theft of goods go simply to the wastepaper basket," Tkachev said.

He said that at the meeting it was proposed to establish interaction between the paramilitary security services of Ukrzaliznytsia and the National Police, including it was proposed to hold regular meetings to coordinate and exchange information, develop an algorithm for recording the theft of cargo, damage and prompt identification of the injured party, due to the absence of which most of the criminal cases are falling apart.