Structural Transformations Of Ukraine'S Transport System Under Conditions Of War And European Integration

This article summarizes theoretical approaches and practical principles regarding the structural transformations of Ukraine’s transportation system in the context of war and European integration. It is argued that, amid wartime destruction of infrastructure, rising logistical risks, financial constraints, and accelerated integration into the EU’s transport space, the transport system takes on key importance as a fundamental element of the state’s economic resilience and the maintenance of foreign economic ties. It is demonstrated that the current stage of development is characterized by a combination of processes of reconstruction, digitalization, and harmonization of national legislation with the EU acquis. This paper systematizes approaches to the transformation of the transportation system and its components — road, rail, maritime, inland waterway, and air transport — in the context of Ukraine’s European integration commitments. It is determined that the key drivers of change are the implementation of European directives, the development of TEN-T infrastructure, the attraction of international financing and private capital, as well as the digitization of transportation processes. It has been shown that the functioning of Ukraine’s transportation system is hampered by structural imbalances: a high level of infrastructure deterioration, a decline in transportation volumes across a number of segments, financial instability among operators, and the consequences of military hostilities, which have resulted in massive asset losses. At the same time, the role of digital solutions, new logistics routes, and international support in ensuring the sector’s resilience is growing. The results of the research show that implementing structural transformations will help improve the resilience, efficiency, and competitiveness of Ukraine’s transportation system, as well as accelerate its integration into the European transportation network. The practical significance lies in the possibility of using these results to shape national transportation policy and strategic planning for the sector’s development.