Fear and disruption for Ukraine's rail passengers as Russia escalates drone attacks

What the report says

BBC World News reports that Ukraine’s rail network is facing growing disruption as Russia intensifies drone attacks on trains and railway infrastructure. The article, published from Kyiv, says state-owned operator Ukrzaliznytsia has recorded a sharp rise in strikes, with more than half of all attacks on locomotives since the full-scale invasion occurring this year. Passengers are increasingly being evacuated during journeys, leaving them stranded on platforms or by tracks for hours while air raid alerts and nearby strikes are dealt with.

The report describes several recent examples, including a passenger travelling from Kharkiv toward Warsaw who was delayed near the Ukraine-Poland border after a drone hit a locomotive. Another passenger, a teenager travelling from Odesa, said she was forced off a train in the early hours and later heard an explosion nearby. BBC says these incidents reflect a broader pattern of attacks that is affecting both passenger confidence and the railway’s reputation for punctuality.

Ukrzaliznytsia chief Oleksandr Pertsovskyi told the broadcaster that protecting passengers and crew is now the top priority. He said the company is using real-time monitoring, evacuation procedures and electronic countermeasures as Russia’s drones become more sophisticated. The BBC notes that Russia says it targets transport infrastructure used by the military. The article argues the escalation matters because rail remains vital for civilian movement and logistics in a country still under wartime pressure, especially ahead of winter.