Zelenskyy Appeals for Air Defense as Russia Targets Ukraine's Rail Network

Ukrainian President's Evening Address

According to Главком: In his nightly video address on February 8, 2026-the 1446th day of the full-scale war-Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that while Russian forces strike the railway system daily, the country's essential logistics remain intact. He urgently called on international partners to provide more air defense systems (ADS). Zelenskyy detailed that Russian attacks are ongoing, including a targeted strike that same day on a passenger train in the Chernihiv region.

Attacks on Railway Infrastructure

These assaults follow recent attacks on rail facilities in the Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions. On February 2, 2026, the Russian military also struck Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways) assets. In Zaporizhzhia, a Russian drone was directed at a locomotive at a station, though the crew was in shelter and no casualties occurred. Ukraine's rail system is a lifeline, moving civilians, humanitarian aid, and vital economic cargo, making it a strategic target for Russian forces seeking to cripple the nation's supply lines.

Zelenskyy stressed the critical importance of maintaining logistics, stating:

'It is vital that we are managing to sustain the necessary logistics everywhere. The Russian army is striking the railway almost every day this week, too.'

He confirmed that Ukrzaliznytsia workers involved in repairing attack damage will receive an additional monthly payment of 20,000 hryvnias until the end of the heating season.

Furthermore, the president emphasized the daily necessity of ballistic missile defense, noting:

'We need missiles for air defense every single day. Protection from Russian ballistic missiles is needed every day.'

He urged the international community not to leave Ukraine alone in the face of such attacks and this war. The Ministry for Communities and Territories Development added that the railway performs a critically important function, which makes it a deliberate target for enemy attacks.

Within the context of the protracted war, Ukraine's railways are crucial not only for passenger transport but also for delivering essential supplies. The sustained attacks on rail infrastructure underscore Russia's strategic aim to destabilize Ukraine's logistical routes. Zelenskyy's appeal for international support in bolstering air defense highlights the urgent need to protect the country's critical infrastructure from constant enemy threats.