Confiscated Belarusian Locomotives and Railcars in Ukraine: Who Will Get Them Next?.

Seizure of Locomotives and Railway Wagons

According to Espreso.tv: Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture has announced the seizure of 2TE10 series locomotives owned by the state enterprise 'Belarusian Railway', along with railway wagons belonging to Russian and Belarusian companies. These locomotives have been under a Kyiv court order for three years now.

Back in September 2022, Ukraine confiscated over 390 railway wagons from eight Russian and two Belarusian firms. Their total value is estimated at around 400 million Ukrainian hryvnias. The assets were handed over to the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) as part of a criminal investigation into financing actions against Ukraine’s constitutional order.

Vitaliy Petruk stated: 'Confiscated assets should not sit idle if they can serve Ukraine’s interests.'

Putting Seized Assets to Use

This move underscores Ukraine’s ongoing anti-crisis measures targeting property linked to aggressor nations. The seized locomotives and wagons could be deployed to bolster Ukraine’s infrastructure, which is especially critical during wartime to support railway restoration and modernization.

It is essential that such assets do not remain unused but instead contribute to the state’s benefit and its economy.