Over 165 Passengers Killed as Russia Deliberately Targets Ukraine’s Railway System.

Strikes on Ukraine’s Railway Network

According to UATV: Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, its forces have repeatedly attacked passenger trains and railway infrastructure across Ukraine. These systematic strikes have killed more than 165 people and injured over 900 others. The damage to the country’s rail system has severely disrupted transport and endangered civilian safety.

Attacks on passenger trains began almost immediately after the war started. In total, Russian forces have carried out over 5,500 strikes on Ukraine’s railway infrastructure. One of the most recent attacks occurred on January 27, 2026, when a train traveling from Chop to Barvinkove was hit in the Kharkiv region. At the time of the strike, more than 150 people were on board, most of them women and children. Omer, a witness to the attack, recalled:

“I instinctively turned the valve, and the steps opened. I started leading people out. I tried to get them as far away as possible, into the forest, and spread them out because I understood: if the train is the target, then the drones are being guided—meaning the operator can see who they’re hitting.”

In another attack on August 24, 2022, Russian forces struck the village of Chaplyne in the Dnipropetrovsk region, killing 25 people. Among the victims were innocent children. Mariana Tkachenko expressed the tragedy:

“The hardest part is seeing children the same age as my own son. They simply killed innocent people.”

Current State of Railway Infrastructure

Since the war began, Ukraine’s railway infrastructure has suffered critical damage. Still, Ukrainian railway officials insist that restoration is underway. Oleksandr Pertsovskyi noted: “The damage to the buildings is critical. But we will rebuild everything. First, modular structures will be put up, and then a modern reconstruction of the station will begin.” Despite the challenges, railway workers continue striving to keep trains running. Tetiana Zinchenko recalled: “We put every available car into service. Everything that could move—moved. There were all kinds of cars, even ones that had been sitting idle for years. And it was winter, freezing cold. But everything that could run, ran.”

The situation on the railways remains extremely difficult, but Ukraine’s infrastructure keeps functioning despite constant threats.

These attacks on Ukraine’s railway infrastructure not only cause devastating loss of life but also complicate logistics, which are vital for moving people and delivering humanitarian aid during wartime. The railway remains a critical component of the country’s infrastructure, urgently requiring repair and protection. Rebuilding tracks and stations is essential for ensuring passenger safety and comfort, as well as for supporting Ukraine’s economy amid the ongoing war.