Ukraine's Railways Under Siege: Over 1100 Strikes in a Year.

According to ТСН: Previously, the 'iron' routes used by world leaders to visit Kyiv and millions of refugees seeking shelter from the war have now become targets for attacks. Russia has changed its strategy and turned the 'Ukrzaliznytsia' network into one of its main targets.

Scale of the 'War on Rails'

According to 'Ukrzaliznytsia', this year alone there have been over 1100 attacks on railway infrastructure:

• This is approximately as many as the strikes in 2023 and 2024 combined.

• The total losses since the beginning of the invasion amount to $5.8 billion, and this figure continues to grow.

Oleksandr Pertzovsky, head of 'Ukrzaliznytsia', calls this 'deliberate, structured, and concentrated efforts aimed at stopping the system's operation'.

Everything is under attack: trains, dispatch towers, depots, bridges, and substations.

Why the Attacks Now

The publication notes that at the beginning of the invasion, Russia aimed to preserve the Ukrainian railway, hoping to use it in case of occupation. Now, as Moscow pressures Kyiv, demanding peace on its terms, the tactic has shifted to complete destruction.

The enemy's objective is clear - to cut off the 'artery' that transports over 60% of the country's cargo, weapons to the front, and grain to the Black Sea ports.

The Price of Resilience

Railway workers are forced to operate in extreme conditions:

• engineers entering Kherson now wear helmets;

• train roofs are equipped with electronic warfare systems to protect against drones;

• substations try to protect themselves with concrete blocks.

Despite all the difficulties, the system continues to function. When a drone recently struck a station and dispatch tower in Fastiv, train movement was restored by noon the same day, switching to manual control.

It is also worth noting that Russian forces have launched a targeted campaign to destroy the 'Kyiv-Kovel' logistics line to cut Ukraine off from Poland. Trains, depots, and bridges have come under fire, likely with drone control conducted from Belarusian territory.

The situation on Ukraine's railways remains extremely challenging, but railway workers continue to carry out their mission despite the risks. Every day confirms that the resilience and determination of Ukrainian workers are the key to the country's viability in wartime.