Ukraine is seeking to enhance protective measures for its railway infrastructure to counter the escalating threats from Russian drone attacks. According to reports, over 1,600 attacks have been recorded in the first eight months of 2026. These attacks have primarily damaged locomotives, stations, and infrastructure.
Recent Attacks and Damages
On September 16, a train traveling between the capital Kyiv and Mykolaiv was attacked by a Russian drone. A day earlier, another train in the Volyn region near the Polish border was targeted. Two days prior, a drone attacked the locomotive of a passenger train at the Yahodyn border crossing, which fortunately had been evacuated before the attack.
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Locomotive Supply and New Challenges
Since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, over 500 Ukrainian locomotives have been damaged or destroyed. Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, has stated that part of "Putin's terror" aims to destabilize Ukraine's logistics system. He has called on international countries to intensify sanctions against Russia and provide more financial support to the Ukrainian government.
Former Ukrainian Transport Minister, Vasyl Shchenko, has pointed to technical problems arising from the attacks and noted that targeting locomotives is easily achievable due to their high thermal signature. He also mentioned the difficulty of securing locomotives immediately, stating that this process could take years.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is negotiating with international partners to secure new locomotives and has signed a contract with the French company Alstom. These locomotives are expected to arrive in Ukraine starting next year.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting on September 15 to review protective measures for critical infrastructure and logistics. He also instructed the Ministry of Finance to find additional financial resources for the logistics sector.
Despite current challenges, Ukrainians are striving to provide greater safety by utilizing more advanced systems for early threat detection. This includes establishing monitoring centers to track the movement of drones and trains across the country.
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