Ukrzaliznytsia prepares new train movement rules due to prolonged air alerts

What is the decision?

According to Рубрика — Суспільство: The Ukrainian authorities, together with Ukrzaliznytsia, are developing new measures to ensure stable train movement during prolonged air alerts, focusing on passenger safety. The Minister of Restoration, Infrastructure, and Transport of Ukraine, Mykola KALASHNIK, held an operational meeting with the leadership of Ukrzaliznytsia, the Kyiv city military administration, and military command. Following the meeting, several areas of work were identified, including:

• 24/7 operation of train stations;
• dispersal of trains and passengers;
• reduction of boarding and alighting times.

How will it work?

The main priority is the safety of passengers and uninterrupted train movement. It is proposed to organize round-the-clock operation of stations to ensure comfort and safety during prolonged air alerts. Additionally, there are plans to disperse trains and passengers to avoid the simultaneous arrival of several trains at neighboring platforms. There are also plans to simplify control procedures during increased threat levels, which will reduce boarding and alighting times for passengers.

An important part of the plan involves improving the threat tracking and rapid response system, which will be coordinated with the military. This decision has become necessary due to the significant load on rail transport caused by systematic Russian attacks. The proposals developed are planned to be presented on August 31 at the initiative of Prime Minister Serhii KORETSKII. Final decisions will only be made after agreements with the military.

Recent Russian strikes on railway infrastructure

Continuous air alerts in Kyiv intensified in late August 2026, due to the activation of Russian attacks on the railway. It is known that Russian occupiers have begun to massively deploy high-speed kamikaze drones, launching them almost around the clock. The spokesperson of the Air Forces, Ihnat, explained that these drones have significantly higher speeds than ordinary ones.

Among the recent attacks, on August 23, Russian troops struck the passenger train connecting Zhytomyr - Odesa for the second time; fortunately, no one was injured, and all passengers were delivered to Odesa. However, in Kharkiv region, a passenger of the Lozova - Kharkiv train died due to a drone attack. In Odesa region, on August 13, a Russian reactive drone hit the locomotive of a passenger train, resulting in the deaths of the driver and his assistant. After this incident, 340 passengers and crew members were evacuated, with no injuries reported.

On the night of August 5, Russian troops launched a massive strike on Kyiv region, leading to the deaths of 9 people in Brovary district, including 8 individuals killed right at the Kvitneva railway station. Due to the deterioration of the security situation in Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhia regions, Ukrzaliznytsia temporarily altered train routes and organized bus transfers on certain sections to ensure safety and comfort for passengers during their travels.

The development of new measures to ensure stable train movement in the context of military threats underscores the importance of passenger and infrastructure safety in Ukraine. Given the constant threat from Russia, implementing these measures could become critically important for saving lives and maintaining railway communication. The planned presentation of proposals on August 31 indicates the active approach of Ukrainian authorities to address problems arising from military actions. This may also affect future decisions regarding transportation safety in the context of conflict.

In light of the new challenges facing Ukrainian rail transport, it is important to note that the return of stations to round-the-clock operation is planned. This decision aims to ensure passenger safety and reduce risks during air alerts, which has become particularly relevant in the face of growing threats from the enemy.