Russia Intensifies Attacks on Ukraine’s Rail Network Amid War

Ukraine has experienced a significant escalation in attacks on its railway system, with a reported threefold increase since July 2024. According to Oleksii Kuleba, the Deputy Prime Minister responsible for infrastructure, these assaults aim to undermine one of Kyiv’s essential logistical frameworks. Since the beginning of the year, rail infrastructure has faced around 800 attacks, causing damage estimated at $1 billion (£760 million).

Kuleba noted, “If you compare just the last three months, attacks have increased three times over.” He emphasized the scale of the damage, which includes more than 3,000 railway objects impacted. “What we have seen in these escalating attacks is that they are going after trains, especially trying to kill the drivers,” Kuleba added.

Critical Role of Railways in Ukraine

The railway network is vital for Ukraine, accounting for over 63% of the country’s freight transport, including crucial grain shipments, as well as 37% of passenger traffic, according to the state statistics service. Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, civilian airports have been rendered non-operational, making rail travel the primary means for transporting people, including international leaders.

“The threat these days is really big,” said Tetyana Tkachenko, the head of the Lozova station. “The Russians are striking directly where people are gathering and they want to damage rails and locomotives.”

Railway officials are adapting to the increased danger. Oleksandr Pertsovskyi, the head of the Ukrainian state railway, Ukrzaliznytsia, highlighted that the enemy forces are using precise Shahed drones to target individual locomotives. In response, measures are being implemented to enhance security, including the installation of electronic systems to deter drone strikes and the formation of dedicated air defense teams from railway personnel.

Recent attacks have resulted in notable damage. Earlier this year, the main building at the Lozova station in the Kharkiv region was severely damaged by a drone strike. Despite the ongoing assaults, passengers continue to queue for tickets and board trains. Tkachenko recounted a recent attack, stating, “I woke up from the huge explosion because I live very close to the station. It happened at 02:44. They wanted to do it. And they did it.”

Strategic Implications of Rail Network Attacks

Lozova serves as a major junction, allowing travel in multiple directions including Dnipro, Sloviansk, Poltava, and Kharkiv. The lines not only facilitate passenger traffic but also transport freight and military supplies, including evacuating injured soldiers from active combat zones.

“Every single air alarm, we have to stop and use a bomb shelter. If there is a train on the tracks, we move it to the nearest station so people can evacuate,” said Oleksandr Podvarchansky, who oversees the track in the Lozova area.

Kuleba identified three main objectives behind Russia’s intensified attacks: disrupting logistics in southern Ukraine to prevent goods from reaching seaports, undermining rail traffic near the frontlines in regions such as Chernihiv and Sumy, and causing widespread destruction in the Donbas, Ukraine’s industrial heartland.

The railway network is not only under physical threat but also facing psychological warfare, with bomb threat hoaxes targeting train services, including an international route earlier this year. While repairs to damaged tracks can often be completed within a day, the destruction of train rolling stock poses a more substantial concern.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Serhii Beskrestnov, a military and drone expert, explained that trains are particularly vulnerable to drone attacks due to their slower speeds and predictable routes. As Russian drone technology evolves and their range extends, an increasing number of railway sections are falling within reach of potential strikes.

Beskrestnov warned, “If the Russians keep hitting diesel and electric locomotives, the time will come very soon when the track will still be intact but we’ll have nothing left to run on it.” As Ukraine continues to navigate these challenges, the resilience of its railway system remains crucial for both civilian transport and military logistics.