Ukraine’s railway network, a critical lifeline for civilians and the economy, is increasingly becoming a target of Russian missile and drone attacks.

On September 1, six employees of Ukraine’s state railway company, Ukrzaliznytsia, were killed when a Russian ballistic missile struck a locomotive depot during a large-scale attack on Kyiv and the surrounding region. Other railway facilities were also damaged.

The attack came amid days of intensified Russian strikes on Kyiv, which have increasingly disrupted civilian life and critical infrastructure.

A railway system under fire

Ukraine’s railway network spans approximately 24,000 kilometres, making it one of the largest in Europe. Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, it has become essential to the country’s resilience — transporting civilians, humanitarian supplies, industrial goods and military personnel, while also supporting evacuations and medical journeys.

At least 58 railway workers have been killed and more than 300 injured since February 2022.

The scale of attacks has increased dramatically. According to Ukrzaliznytsia, Russian forces have struck railway infrastructure more than 1,500 times since the beginning of 2026, already exceeding the total recorded throughout 2025. Hundreds of locomotives and railway carriages have been damaged.

The human cost

The attacks are not limited to tracks and infrastructure. Railway workers themselves are increasingly exposed to danger.

Trains can be forced to stop during air raids, requiring passengers to leave carriages and seek shelter. In one recent incident in the Odesa region, a Russian drone targeted a passenger train carrying around 600 people, including 15 children. Passengers were evacuated while explosions were heard nearby.

For millions of Ukrainians, travelling by train has become part of everyday life during wartime — but also another experience shaped by the constant threat of missile and drone attacks.

Despite this, railway employees continue repairing damaged infrastructure and keeping the country connected.

Protecting Ukraine’s critical infrastructure

Russia’s continued attacks on the railway network demonstrate how critical civilian infrastructure has become a target of the war.

Damage to railway facilities affects much more than transportation. It disrupts supply chains, slows economic activity and makes it harder for civilians, humanitarian organisations and businesses to move across the country.

Protecting Ukraine’s railway system therefore means protecting the people who depend on it — and the workers who keep it operating under extraordinary conditions.

Strengthening Ukraine’s air defence remains essential to protecting critical infrastructure and civilian lives.

Source: The Guardian — “Russia targets Ukraine’s rail network as war enters deadly new phase”