More than 500 locomotives have been damaged or destroyed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, as Moscow intensifies attacks on the country’s railway network, including passenger trains, according to Politico.
The bulk of those losses have occurred over the past eight months, with Ukrzaliznytsia currently losing between 37 and 40 locomotives each month.
Ukrzaliznytsia chairman Oleksandr Pertsovskyi said Russia began actively targeting passenger trains in autumn 2025, using drones equipped with antennas for mesh networks. The technology allows drones to maintain connections and be controlled in real time despite electronic warfare.
Most attacks on Ukraine’s railway network occur within 200km of the frontline, particularly in the east and south. Pertsovskyi said Russia had recently expanded its attacks to western regions, with antennas and repeaters in Belarus reportedly helping drones operate farther from the frontline.
A recent strike near the Polish border also raised concerns about foreign visitors. Ukrzaliznytsia said the drone was likely targeting a diplomatic train that had departed shortly before the attack. Former British prime minister Boris Johnson was among those travelling on the train, although it had already crossed into Poland when the attack occurred.
Pertsovskyi said the attacks aimed not only to disrupt Ukrainian logistics but also to isolate frontline communities, undermine the economy and discourage foreign visitors from travelling to Ukraine.
Replacing the damaged fleet is costly: a new locomotive costs about €5m. Ukraine is seeking additional international assistance, including from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank.
Despite the attacks, Ukrzaliznytsia says it has no plans to suspend operations. On 17 September, train services were halted 111 times overnight because of drone threats, with some services subsequently delayed.
By Aghakazim Guliyev
