Published On 18/11/2025
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Last update: 22:04 (Mecca time)
For centuries, Ukraine’s railways have been more than just a transportation network; It was a lifeline, a symbol of civilization, and a backbone of the historical economy under the banners of empires, but today it has turned into an arena of logistical conflict in the war with Russia.
The role of railways in Ukraine is no longer limited to transporting passengers and goods only, but also carries soldiers and military supplies to the fronts, and maintains communication with major cities despite the ongoing attacks on them, which have amounted to more than 3,700 attacks since last August.
According to the advisor to the former Ukrainian Defense Minister, Yuri Sak, the railways represent a “vital logistical artery for the Ukrainian army,” and the Russians deliberately target them to weaken the country’s ability to defend and harm the lives of civilians.
Roots of Ukraine Railways
Railway lines developed across Ukrainian territory in the context of imperial control in the 19th century; Not only to serve the interests of the Russian Empire, but also to connect its railways to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. To connect rich farmlands and industrial centers to ports and global trade.
Through these railways, grains and minerals were transported from the heart of Ukraine to the Baltic ports, which provided the empires with a strategic economic outlet.
Railways were not only used to build the economy, but also penetrated deep into Ukrainian and Soviet culture. During the era of Soviet control, railways became a symbol of teamwork and sacrifice.
It also appeared in the literature of novels that glorified workers and infrastructure as part of the socialist project. This strengthened the position of railways as a part of the national identity, not only for transportation, but also as a symbol of resistance and the development of the state.
Ukrainian railways as a strategic target
With the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022, Ukraine’s railways began to play a crucial logistical role as they were used to transport soldiers, supplies, and weapons, as well as maintaining civilian links between cities.
But this role made the railways a strategic target. In one raid, the Ukrainian Minister of Community Development reported that a station in the Chernihiv region had been targeted by Russian aircraft, and the damage was repaired using a reserve of diesel-powered locomotives.
In addition, the official report stated that the Ukrainian railway network suffered huge damage and that about 10,000 kilometers of railways were damaged or lost.
Historically, railways played a dual economic and strategic role, but today they represent an icon of resistance between the cultural and literary heritage and the contemporary military challenge.
About 160 years ago, the railway network in Ukraine laid the foundation stone to become one of the greatest transport arteries in Eastern Europe, between the Russian, Austrian and Hungarian empires.
Despite this destruction, Ukrzhaleznitsa (Ukrainian Railway Company) continues its restoration efforts, having restored more than 3,600 kilometers of lines and 41 stations so far, which transport agricultural and industrial wealth and contribute to building glory beyond the country’s borders.
Symbolic and strategic significance
Targeting Ukrainian railways is not just a physical strike on iron and concrete, but rather an attack on a long-term heritage. The iron network originated under empires, was rooted in the Soviet project, and today has become the heart of Ukrainian resistance.
From a Ukrainian perspective, these attacks represent an attempt to cripple a “lifeline” linking it to what remains of its economy and the infrastructure that ensures the communication of civilians and the army.
From Russia’s point of view, weakening the railways aims to disrupt the Ukrainian logistical front, sow chaos in the movement of civilians and weapons, and perhaps discourage the will to persevere by striking basic infrastructure.
Despite this, the Ukrainian authorities are constantly working to repair the damage, stressing that the railway will remain a symbol of Ukrainians’ steadfastness and the key to their daily lives.