Ukrzaliznytsia on the verge of stopping: how can Ukrainians live without trains and is there a “plan B” for passengers?

On the night of September 17, Ukrainians once again felt the brunt of the war, which leaves no moment of peace, even in ordinary life. A massive drone strike on energy facilities supplying the main railway junctions caused severe disruptions to train traffic on the Dnieper and Odessa routes.

Trains were delayed for extended periods, and some were forced to use bypass routes. In some cases, passengers were transferred to buses.

These attacks on rail transport are not a coincidence. Oleksandr Pertsovsky, the head of Ukrzaliznytsia, emphasizes that Russian forces are purposefully attacking transport infrastructure, trying to destroy logistics and paralyze supplies, which, in turn, deprives the country of income. He also notes that the goal is to cause chaos in the country, as the railway is a vital part of the infrastructure, and the enemy understands this perfectly well.

Minister of Community and Territorial Development Oleksiy Kuleba also confirmed that the attacks targeted power systems, signaling, and communications. Without these elements, train traffic becomes vulnerable, as even a short-term power outage can lead to the suspension of entire routes. However, despite the threat, Ukrzaliznytsia is demonstrating high resilience. The company has backup locomotives ready to hit the road as soon as the power goes out. Repair crews are also working around the clock to repair the damage as quickly as possible.

People’s Deputy Oksana Savchuk expressed concern about the possibility of a complete suspension of transportation and stressed the importance of developing a “plan B” for passengers. It is necessary to have not only additional buses, but also clearly thought-out alternative routes, backup power systems, and regular public information about potential changes in station operations.

Fortunately, a major disaster has been avoided for now: international trains to Poland continue to run, albeit with transfers, and most domestic flights were restored within 24 hours. However, experts warn that if the strikes become more frequent, this could lead to the shutdown of major routes due to the accumulation of damage.

Today, Ukrzaliznytsia is not just a means of transport, but a symbol of the indomitability of a country that continues to move forward despite wars. Each arriving train shows that Ukrainian logistics does not give in, even under pressure. However, to sustain this situation, Ukraine needs to invest in protected substations, strengthen international cooperation, and reserve funds for repairs; otherwise, an essential tool in the fight could be at risk.