Kyiv – Since the summer, Russia has intensified its campaign against Ukraine’s railway system, employing long-range drones to strike critical infrastructure. Despite these assaults, the network remains operational, stated the CEO of the state railway company, Oleksandr Pertsovskyi, to Reuters, reports 24brussels.
Pertsovskyi highlighted that the objectives of these attacks are to instill panic among passengers and disrupt the economy, rather than specifically targeting military transports. He noted, “These are all, in essence, strikes on civilian infrastructure.”
The state-owned railway operator, Ukrzaliznytsia, employing 170,000 workers, has faced escalating Russian assaults since the onset of the invasion three and a half years ago. This surge in attacks has led to frequent disruptions and delays across the network.
What role does the railway play during wartime?
Since the beginning of the conflict in February 2022, the railway has become a crucial means of transportation for civilians in Ukraine amid the suspension of flights. It serves not only passenger needs but also facilitates the movement of military supplies and freight, although wartime conditions have sharply reduced cargo volumes, thus straining the company’s finances.
Noteworthy international figures such as French President Emmanuel Macron, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and former U.S. President Joe Biden have traveled to Ukraine by train during wartime. The railway’s sleeper carriages have emerged as a reliable option for overnight journeys, although recent Russian offensives have caused significant delays.
Pertsovskyi pointed to a connection between the drone attacks and an increase in the usage of long-range drones produced by Russia’s military-industrial complex. Throughout the conflict, Russian forces have targeted multiple bridges, only to see them repaired time and again.
When did Russia launch the most devastating attack on the Ukrainian railway?
On August 5, 2025, a significant and destructive Russian drone strike occurred in Lozova, a key railway hub in eastern Ukraine. This assault involved 34 drones, causing extensive damage to the train station and nearby rail facilities. The attack resulted in the deaths of two individuals, including a railway employee, and left 13 others injured, among them two children.
