Police Launch Investigation After Harassment Allegations on Odesa-Kyiv Train

Incident on the Odesa-Kyiv Train

According to Главком: During an overnight journey on the Odesa-Kyiv train, a female passenger reported being sexually harassed. The woman, identified as Khrystyna and a user of the social media platform Threads, alerted the train conductor after she said a man began touching her. She later posted photos of the accused man online, prompting users to identify him and locate his Instagram profile.

The man in question confirmed he was traveling to Kyiv that night for his son’s scheduled medical examination-the child has multiple developmental disabilities. He denied the allegations, calling them baseless, and explained that he had climbed down from his upper bunk to get water. According to him, Khrystyna asked him to return to his seat, and he apologized, acknowledging that his actions may have caused discomfort.

“At first I thought I was imagining it. I woke up, looked, and saw this scumbag sitting above me. I turned away, but he moved closer and started running his dirty hands along my arm, trying to reach my chest,” Khrystyna stated.

After the post went viral, the accused man and his family began receiving threats. Ukraine’s national railway operator, Ukrzaliznytsia, responded by asking Khrystyna to provide her ticket for verification. The company added that the conductor learned of the incident just ten minutes before the train arrived and tried to contact the passenger for details. Khrystyna called the carrier’s response a slander and confirmed she would file a police report.

Police Response

Kyiv police confirmed they received a complaint from the passenger and opened a criminal case under Part 1 of Article 153 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code, which covers sexual violence. “Officers are currently establishing all the circumstances and interviewing witnesses. The investigation is ongoing,” authorities said.

This case highlights ongoing concerns about passenger safety on public transport in Ukraine. While Ukrzaliznytsia has moved to clarify the incident, the situation underscores persistent challenges in ensuring secure and comfortable travel. Broader discussions about service quality and travel conditions on Ukrainian trains could help drive improvements for passengers.