138,047 drunk drivers per year, what are the penalties under Article 130 in Ukraine?
Drunk driving statistics in Ukraine in 2025: How many Article 130 reports are there and what does it mean for drivers?
In 2025, Ukrainian police issued 138,047 reports for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Although the overall number of such incidents has decreased for the first time in the last five years, drunk driving remains one of the most serious threats to road safety.
According to law enforcement agencies, the number of violations continues to increase in some regions, and the consequences of drunk driving often lead to serious traffic accidents, injuries, and deaths.
Learn more about penalties, fines, and protection under Article 130 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses.
Accidents caused by drunk drivers: consequences of violations
According to official statistics, 643 road accidents involving fatalities or injuries occurred last year due to drunk drivers.
As a result of these accidents:
- 73 people died;
- 857 received injuries of varying severity.
In fact, one in fortieth fatal accident in Ukraine in 2025 was related to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Where are the most cases of drunk driving recorded?
In 2025, the highest number of drunk driving citations were issued in:
- Dnipropetrovsk Oblast – 13,519 citations;
- Kharkiv Oblast – 12,095;
- Odesa Oblast – 11,543.
The fewest violations were recorded in:
- Kherson Oblast – 1,138;
- Chernivtsi Oblast – 1,596;
- Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast – 1,897.
However, some regions have seen an increase in drunk driving cases. Specifically, increases were recorded in Rivne Oblast (+19%), Khmelnytsky Oblast (+18%), Kharkiv Oblast (+8.5%), and Zaporizhia Oblast (+3%).
These data indicate that the problem remains relevant and requires increased enforcement by law enforcement.
Criminal Proceedings and Judicial Practice
In addition to administrative liability, prosecutors opened 1,044 criminal cases related to drunk driving in 2025. Approximately 59% of these cases went to court.
This demonstrates that the consequences of drunk driving can extend beyond an administrative offense and lead to more serious legal liability.
What penalties are provided for drunk driving in Ukraine?
Driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs in Ukraine is in most cases classified under Article 130 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of Ukraine.
Persons can be held liable for:
- driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs;
- refusing to undergo a medical examination;
- letting a person drive.
Depending on the circumstances, the offender may face a large fine, loss of driving privileges, and, in the case of repeat offenses, even harsher penalties.
Why is it important to properly defend your rights in drunk driving cases?
In practice, cases under Article 130 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses are often accompanied by procedural violations: improperly completed reports, errors during the examination, or violations of the vehicle stop procedure.
A competent legal assessment of the circumstances of the case allows one to verify the legality of the police actions and, if there are grounds, challenge the prosecution.