Kyiv-Bound Intercity Trains from Kharkiv Suspended; Passengers to Transfer in Poltava.

Intercity Service Temporarily Halted

According to Novyny.live: Ukrzaliznytsia, Ukraine's state railway operator, announced on March 18, 2026, that it is temporarily suspending its Intercity high-speed service between Kharkiv and Kyiv due to ongoing hostilities. The decision affects all Intercity trains operating to and from Kharkiv. Travelers who had planned journeys on this route have been notified that they will need to transfer trains in Poltava.

Schedule Adjustments Take Effect

Specifically, train No. 723 from Kharkiv to Kyiv, originally scheduled to depart at 13:12 on March 18, will now terminate at Poltava-Pivdenna station. For those traveling to Poltava, a separate service—train No. 223 from Kharkiv to Poltava—will depart at 13:50. This means that passengers holding Intercity tickets to Kyiv must account for the revised routing and seek alternative travel arrangements.

• Tickets for Intercity trains on the Kharkiv-Kyiv route remain available for March 19 and later dates.
• Passengers are urged to closely monitor updates and plan their trips well in advance.

The temporary suspension highlights the continued instability in the region, driven by military activity. These schedule changes could significantly disrupt travelers' plans, requiring them to make extra efforts to reorganize their journeys. For its part, Ukrzaliznytsia remains committed to passenger safety and is responding quickly to the shifting situation. This underscores the need for the transport infrastructure to adapt rapidly to evolving conditions.