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ConflictsUkraine

Ukraine: Inside the train carrying soldiers to front lines

May 31, 2026

Ukraine's railways now face hundreds of Russian strikes each month. DW’s Nimisha Jaiswal travels alongside Ukrainians who rely on the trains, which even carry soldiers as close to the front lines as safety permits.

https://p.dw.com/p/5EQ5X

Ukraine's railways recorded nearly 1,200 hits from Russian attacks in 2025 — more than in 2023 and 2024 combined. In 2026, there had been nearly 1,000 by early May. Passenger trains and evacuation routes are increasingly targeted, disrupting journeys and threatening mobility, safety, and morale across the country.

Yet the network remains heavily used and trusted despite the dangers. The question now is whether Ukraine can continue to operate safely under increasingly frequent attacks.