Russia's Brutal Assault on Ukrainian Railways: A Struggle for Survival

In a drastic surge of drone strikes, Russia targets Ukraine's vital railway system, jeopardizing transport and civilian safety as the country braces for another winter of war. Railway conductor Olha Zolotova recounts her traumatic experience during an attack that highlights the severe disruption to Ukraine's infrastructure.

Propped up in her hospital bed, railway conductor Olha Zolotova speaks slowly and quietly as she talks about the day her train was hit by a Russian drone. When the Shahed [drone] hit I was covered in rubble. I was in the second car. People pulled me out, she says. My eyes went dark. There was fire everywhere, everything was burning, my hair caught fire a little. I was trapped. Olha is a victim of Russia's increasingly frequent attacks on the Ukrainian railway system – vital infrastructure that keeps the country moving three and a half years since Moscow's full-scale invasion.

Ukraine's 21,000km-long (13,000-mile) railway system is not merely a mode of transport, it is a central pillar of Ukraine's war effort and a powerful national symbol of resilience.

Olha's injuries were severe, so she was transported more than 300km (185 miles) to a special hospital in the capital, Kyiv, dedicated to railway workers. She has just had surgery on her hip and a metal plate inserted into her leg.

Her train was hit earlier this month at a station in Shostka in the northern Sumy region. As rescue workers sought to tend to the injured, a second Russian drone struck the station – a type of hit known as a double tap. Thirty people in total were hurt, including three children, and one man was found dead, possibly from a heart attack. According to national rail operator Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ), there were twice as many attacks in September as there were in August - not just on trains but on the infrastructure that supports the rail network.

In fact, half of the attacks on the railways since the beginning of the war have taken place in the past two months. Almost every day for the last two months, we have been experiencing targeted attacks on Ukrzaliznytsia infrastructure and on power transmission facilities, says Oleksiy Balesta, a deputy minister at the department that oversees the rail network. Balesta suggests Russia has been hunting for locomotives - deliberately targeting both freight and passenger trains.

Behind the deputy minister is a wrecked locomotive, part of Ukraine's intercity fleet that was targeted in eastern Kyiv on one particularly devastating night at the end of August. The attack also included a strike on a key rail junction in Koziatyn in the central Vinnytsia region, creating delays and forcing significant diversions.

Officials here point to two principal factors contributing to this intensified spate of attacks: Russia's increasing capability in producing large numbers of relatively cheap Shahed-type drones and the near stalemate on the front line, leading to a shift in the Russian military's focus to disrupt supply lines.

It's a very clear battle for the railways, says Oleksandr Pertsovskyi, chief executive of UZ. The enemy is trying to stop us completely. This is part of a war tactic meant to cause panic among civilians, destroy our economy, and make the country unliveable. Repairing damage as fast as possible, co-ordinating with the military and training its staff to recognise potential sabotage threats are all key to Ukraine's response.

The constant threat of missiles and drones means flying people and supplies around the country is nearly impossible. Much of the grain and iron ore exports that Ukraine's economy depends on is moved by train to the southern Black Sea ports, and westward through Poland. Political leaders from all around the world also enter the country by train – iron diplomacy, as Ukrainians call it. The workers caught up in attacks are called iron heroes.

As Ukrainians eye their fourth winter since Russia's invasion, UZ's Oleksandr Pertsovskyi believes the attacks on their infrastructure could result in the most challenging winter yet. He stresses the need for stronger air defenses from allies, stating, But we're not desperate. We're preparing mentally and practically. Ukrainians remain strong in spirit. This spirit, however, looks set to be tested to the limit in the coming months.