Russia Attacks Ukrzaliznytsia Locomotive Twice in One Day in Odesa Region
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Russian forces attacked a Ukrzaliznytsia locomotive in Odesa Oblast for the second time in one day on August 13.
- The second strike hit a diesel locomotive performing shunting operations needed to allow trains to pass safely.
- The railway crew had been warned about the threat in advance and no one was injured in the second attack.
- Earlier the same day, a Russian drone struck the locomotive of a passenger train, killing the driver and his assistant.
Russian forces attacked railway infrastructure in Odesa Oblast for the second time on August 13, striking a Ukrzaliznytsia diesel locomotive performing shunting operations. The attack came only hours after another Russian drone hit a passenger train locomotive in the same area, killing two railway workers.
Second Railway Attack in a Matter of Hours
The second strike targeted a locomotive that was carrying out shunting operations, which are used to move railway vehicles and organize the movement of trains on the network.
According to Ukrzaliznytsia CEO Oleksandr Pertzovsky, the locomotive was operating near the same section of railway where a passenger train had been attacked earlier in the day.
The railway crew had been warned about the approaching threat beforehand. As a result, the workers were able to leave the dangerous area and there were no casualties in the second attack.
Earlier Strike Killed Two Railway Workers
The second attack followed a much deadlier incident earlier on August 13.
A Russian jet-powered drone struck the locomotive of a passenger train in Odesa Oblast as the train was approaching a station so that passengers could be evacuated.
The attack killed the 50-year-old driver and his 41-year-old assistant, according to Ukrainian authorities.
There were 340 passengers on the train, including 67 children. No passengers were reported injured, and they were subsequently evacuated and transported to Odesa by bus.
Railway Operations Disrupted
The repeated attacks have also affected passenger services in the region.
Following the strikes, Odesa Railways temporarily suspended several suburban services connecting Odesa with stations including Kolosivka, Martynivska and Pomichna.
Railway officials have urged passengers to follow evacuation instructions during security stops and warned people not to remain inside trains, on platforms or close to railway infrastructure when a threat is detected.
Russia Increasingly Targets Railway Infrastructure
Ukraine’s railway network has become an important target of Russian attacks throughout the full-scale war.
Railways remain essential for transporting civilians, humanitarian supplies, industrial goods and military-related logistics across the country. This makes major railway junctions, locomotives and infrastructure strategically important even when they are far from the frontline.
The events in Odesa Oblast demonstrate another challenge: Russian drones can target individual locomotives and moving railway operations rather than only large stationary infrastructure.
A Difficult Day for Ukrzaliznytsia
The two attacks on August 13 underline the risks faced by Ukrainian railway workers.
The first strike resulted in the deaths of two employees despite efforts to stop the train and evacuate people. Hours later, another locomotive was attacked in the same general area, although advance warning allowed its crew to escape unharmed.
For Ukrzaliznytsia, the incidents are another reminder that maintaining railway services during the war requires constant monitoring, rapid evacuation procedures and the ability to keep operating despite repeated attacks.
