Russia Destroyed 400 Ukrainian Locomotives in 2026, Infrastructure Minister Says

Ukraine has lost 630 locomotives since Russia launched its 2022 full-scale invasion, with nearly 400 of them lost in 2026, Ukraine’s Infrastructure Minister Mykola Kalashnyk said on Friday, Nov. 13.During a question-and-answer session in Ukraine’s parliament, Kalashnyk said Russia has ramped up attacks on railway infrastructure, putting additional pressure on the country’s transport and logistics network, as reported by state media Ukrinform.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.Nearly 15 attacks on railway rolling stock have been recorded since the beginning of November, the minister said. The strikes affect passenger transportation and freight operations.The latest numbers represent a further increase from late October, when Kalashnyk reported that Russian attacks had damaged 605 locomotives. He said many of those could not be used even after repairs because of severe damage.The losses have forced Kyiv to seek additional rolling stock from its allies.Finland has announced the transfer of 10 locomotives, while Ukraine is negotiating further assistance with other countries.The government is also finalizing approximately €100 million ($110 million) in World Bank grant financing to purchase around 60 used locomotives. In September, it simplified procurement procedures, allowing Ukrzaliznytsia, Ukraine’s state railway operator, to purchase used locomotives, spare parts and related services without standard tender procedures through March 2027, according to Ukrinform. Other Topics of Interest Funds from foreign-owned businesses under Russian management are reportedly financing drones, military vehicles and electronic warfare equipment for troops fighting in Ukraine. The World Bank financing and international transfers are intended to help restore the railway’s operating capacity as repair costs and financial pressures increase. Preliminary estimates put the cost of restoring damaged railway infrastructure at up to Hr.91 billion ($2 billion), while Ukrzaliznytsia forecasts to end 2026 with a loss of Hr.18 billion ($395 million).Russian attacks on railway infrastructure have escalated throughout 2026, increasingly targeting locomotives and moving passenger trains rather than only stationary infrastructure.According to Human Rights Watch, Russian forces struck a passenger train near Kharkiv on Jan. 27, killing five people and injuring two. On Mar. 2, a drone attack on a train traveling from Nikopol to Kryvyi Rih killed one civilian and injured at least six. On Aug. 6, a strike near Lozova railway station killed two railway workers and injured 11 civilians.Ukrzaliznytsia recorded more than 1,600 Russian attacks on its rolling stock and infrastructure during the first eight months of 2026. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine verified 130 Russian attacks on railway infrastructure between June and September, following 142 attacks in the preceding six-month period. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.