Sybiha Urges Allies to Supply Locomotives After 500 Hit

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha appealed to international partners on September 15, 2026, urging them to provide replacement locomotives as Russia's relentless campaign against Ukraine's railway infrastructure has resulted in the damaging or destruction of 500 locomotive engines since the start of the full-scale invasion.

Scale of railway destruction

The 500-locomotive milestone reflects a sustained Russian effort to paralyse Ukraine's railway network. Russian forces have struck Ukrainian railway infrastructure more than 1,500 times in 2026 alone, targeting train stations, tracks, locomotives, and rolling stock across the country. The Ukrainian state railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia has continued to function under extreme pressure, maintaining vital supply lines for both military logistics and civilian movement.

On September 15, Russian forces struck a passenger train locomotive in the latest attack on the rail network, though advance warning from monitoring systems allowed the train crew to evacuate in time and no injuries were reported.

International support needed

Sybiha's call for locomotive donations comes as Ukraine faces growing difficulty keeping its rail fleet operational. Railway transportation remains critical for moving troops, weapons, humanitarian aid, and civilians across a country where road transport is often dangerous due to ongoing Russian strikes.

The foreign minister called on European partners and other allied nations to respond urgently to Ukraine's request for locomotive replacements, noting that the railway system underpins the entire war-time logistics chain. Without sustained international assistance to replenish the fleet, Ukraine's ability to move supplies efficiently across the country could be seriously compromised.

For more coverage of Ukraine's infrastructure challenges, see our world news section or follow the Ukraine railways tag.