Ukrainian minister says more than 800 attacks recorded since start of year as Moscow seeks to destroy country’s logistical capabilities
Ukraine has recorded a threefold increase in the number of attacks on its railway system since July, according to a senior minister, as Moscow seeks to scupper one of Kyiv’s key logistical systems.
Oleksii Kuleba, a deputy prime minister with responsibility for infrastructure, said attacks on the network since the start of 2025 had caused damage totalling $1bn (£760m).
“If you compare just the last three months, attacks have increased three times over,” Kuleba said. “Since the beginning of the year there have been 800 attacks on railway infrastructure, and more than 3,000 railway objects have been damaged. What we have seen in these escalating attacks is that they are going after trains, especially trying to kill the drivers.”
In a country as large as Ukraine, the railways are critical. The rail network carries more than 63% of the country’s freight – including grain shipments – and 37% of passenger traffic, according to the state statistics service. Military assistance from foreign countries often arrives by train.
