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Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Russian strikes have damaged or destroyed more than 500 locomotives, according to the media.
Russia increasingly attacks Ukrainian passenger trains with reactive drones. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Russian strikes have damaged or destroyed more than 500 locomotives, with more than 60% of them in the last eight months alone.
POLITICO reports.
Currently, Ukrzaliznytsia loses from 37 to 40 locomotives per month. Russia acknowledges strikes on Ukrainian trains and explains them as an attempt to destroy the logistics used to transport foreign weapons.
At the same time, Ukrzaliznytsia believes the Russian campaign has a broader purpose.
“The Russians aim to isolate our frontline communities, sow panic and fear among already exhausted people, and paralyze the economy,” said Oleksandr Pershotskyi, the head of the board.
How does Russia attack moving trains?
Russia began actively attacking passenger trains last autumn. According to Pershotsky, this was aided by the use of network antennas. They allow drones to transmit signals to one another or connect to ground transmitters in Belarus and on occupied territories.
Thanks to this, operators can control drones in real time even amid radio-electronic warfare and attack moving targets.
The greatest threat to the railway currently comes from reactive drones. Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, together with manufacturers of counter-drone systems, is working on a solution to protect trains.
Russia is expanding the geography of attacks
Most strikes fall in areas within about 200 kilometers from the front line or the Russian border. Primarily these are eastern and southern regions of Ukraine. Recently, however, Russian attacks have extended to the country’s west. Pershotskyi says Russia uses antennas and repeaters in Belarus for this.
One such case occurred last weekend near the Polish border. A Russian drone attacked a train soon after another train with European security advisors and former leaders, including former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, departed from the station.
At the time of the attack the diplomatic train had already crossed the border into Poland. Ukrzaliznytsia said it could have been the drone’s target, as it had departed at a previously scheduled time.
Ukraine lacks locomotives to replace those destroyed
Beyond the direct danger to passengers, Russian strikes create a serious problem for Ukrzaliznytsia in replacing damaged rolling stock. Ukraine needs money for repairing locomotives, spare parts and materials, and workers who can restore equipment around the clock.
Support in this area comes from, among others, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank. However, the pace of destruction exceeds available financial resources. A new locomotive costs about 5 million euros.
Rapid replacement of destroyed equipment with European locomotives is also difficult due to differences in track gauge. In Ukraine the track gauge is 1520 mm, while in most European countries it is 1435 mm. Similar equipment is used only in the Baltic states and Finland. Lithuania has already promised to transfer locomotives to Ukraine under the winter support package.
Today, 18 September, the Russian army struck a suburban train in Kharkiv region. Two passengers were seriously injured. During evacuation they did not move far enough from the train.
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