“Russia’s desire is obvious: to paralyze Ukrainian logistics, because a significant portion of cargo, including military cargo, uses rail transport,” former Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan said in an interview with RFE\/RL\u2019s Ukrainian Service<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have seen strikes on railway depots, and rolling stock has also been damaged. Railway substations are the target of constant attacks,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Photo Gallery: \nA series of Russian strikes targeting trains and railway infrastructure have raised fears the Kremlin is probing Ukraine’s response to supply disruptions amid Russia’s ongoing war on Ukraine.\n<\/p>\n Ukraine\u2019s rail network, and keeping it running, have been a major source of national pride, economic necessity, humanitarian transport, and a critical lifeline in a war effort that has lasted almost four years<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Despite daily air attacks around the country by Russian drones and missiles, trains ferrying military equipment and troops, humanitarian missions to get food to war-torn regions, and cargo cars filled with grain and other exports to keep money flowing into Kyiv\u2019s coffers have managed to run continuously.<\/p>\n An estimated 60-65 percent of the country\u2019s economic output still moves via rail despite the perils brought about by the war. Even world leaders have taken to Ukrainian trains to meet officials in an area where air travel is impossible.<\/p>\n The strategic importance hasn\u2019t been lost on Moscow\u2019s military leadership.<\/p>\n A Systematic Campaign<\/strong><\/p>\n Early on in the war, Ukraine\u2019s railways were largely left alone. Analysts say Russia likely thought the war would be quick so there was no need to unnecessarily damage key infrastructure.<\/p>\n Russia did target Ukrainian railways at times, as witnessed by a deadly strike at Kramatorsk<\/strong><\/a> station in April 2022 that sparked global condemnation.<\/p>\n But this year, Ukrainian officials say it has become a systematic campaign.<\/p>\n Hours after the Shostka attack, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko wrote on social media that \u201cRussians have entered a new stage of barbarism\u201d with repeated attacks since the summer.<\/p>\n \u201cOver the past two months alone, 220 Russian strikes on railway infrastructure \u2014 including trains, stations, and electricity substations \u2014 have been recorded,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n![\"Russia\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/61d15179-a7ab-4471-923a-08ddfa9b85de_cx9_cy16_cw81_w250_r1_s.jpg\")
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\nRussia\u2019s New Target: Ukrainian Trains<\/p>\n