Propped up in her hospital bed, railway conductor Olha Zolotova speaks slowly and quietly as she talks about the day her train was hit by a Russian drone. When the Shahed [drone] hit I was covered in rubble. I was in the second car. People pulled me out, she says. My eyes went dark. There was fire everywhere, everything was burning, my hair caught fire a little. I was trapped. Olha is a victim of Russia's increasingly frequent attacks on the Ukrainian railway system – vital infrastructure that keeps the country moving three and a half years since Moscow's full-scale invasion.
Ukraine's 21,000km-long (13,000-mile) railway system is a central pillar of Ukraine's war effort and a powerful national symbol of resilience. Olha's injuries were severe, so she was transported more than 300km (185 miles) to a special hospital in Kyiv dedicated to railway workers. She has just had surgery on her hip and a metal plate inserted into her leg.
Her train was hit earlier this month at a station in Shostka in the northern Sumy region, where a second Russian drone struck soon after – a type of hit known as a double tap. Ukraine says civilians and rescue teams were directly targeted, possibly constituting a war crime under international law. Thirty people were injured, including three children, and one man was found dead, possibly from a heart attack. According to national rail operator Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ), there were twice as many attacks in September as in August, not just on trains but on supporting infrastructure.
The uptick in attacks coincides with Russia's increase in drone production capabilities and a shift in focus to disrupt Ukraine's supply lines. It's a very clear battle for the railways, says Oleksandr Pertsovskyi, CEO of UZ. Repairing damage quickly and coordinating with the military are crucial to maintaining operations. Despite the ongoing threat, Ukrainian officials are determined to continue providing services and uplift the morale of their passengers, even amidst challenging conditions as the war draws into its fourth winter.
Ukraine's 21,000km-long (13,000-mile) railway system is a central pillar of Ukraine's war effort and a powerful national symbol of resilience. Olha's injuries were severe, so she was transported more than 300km (185 miles) to a special hospital in Kyiv dedicated to railway workers. She has just had surgery on her hip and a metal plate inserted into her leg.
Her train was hit earlier this month at a station in Shostka in the northern Sumy region, where a second Russian drone struck soon after – a type of hit known as a double tap. Ukraine says civilians and rescue teams were directly targeted, possibly constituting a war crime under international law. Thirty people were injured, including three children, and one man was found dead, possibly from a heart attack. According to national rail operator Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ), there were twice as many attacks in September as in August, not just on trains but on supporting infrastructure.
The uptick in attacks coincides with Russia's increase in drone production capabilities and a shift in focus to disrupt Ukraine's supply lines. It's a very clear battle for the railways, says Oleksandr Pertsovskyi, CEO of UZ. Repairing damage quickly and coordinating with the military are crucial to maintaining operations. Despite the ongoing threat, Ukrainian officials are determined to continue providing services and uplift the morale of their passengers, even amidst challenging conditions as the war draws into its fourth winter.
