Russia's Advanced Drone Technology Targets Ukraine's Critical Railway Network: A Growing Strategic Threat

Ukraine's rail network handles over 63% of the country's freight and 37% of passenger traffic.

In Kyiv, Ukraine, Russian drone strikes recently targeted the Shostka train station in northeastern Ukraine, killing a 71-year-old man, injuring at least eight others, and severely damaging train cars with fire and shrapnel.

This attack represents a concerning trend that Ukrainian officials have observed since mid-summer: a significant increase in strikes against railway infrastructure, which serves as a critical lifeline for both commercial and military logistics.

These assaults are part of Russia's broader strategy targeting Ukrainian infrastructure, now executed with enhanced precision due to advancements in long-range drone technology featuring onboard video capabilities.

The Shostka attack, occurring less than 70 kilometers from the Russian border, involved two explosives-laden drones striking commuter trains in rapid succession.

According to Oleksandr Pertsovskyi, CEO of the Ukrainian state railway, Russia has intensified railway attacks over the past three months, aiming to create unrest in border regions by disrupting essential rail connections.

"What happens is not just about the quantity, it's also the approach of enemy forces. Now, as they have very precise Shahed drones, they are targeting individual locomotives," Pertsovskyi explained to The Associated Press.

While Ukrainian railway management has maintained operations through rapid repairs despite repeated strikes, officials and analysts caution that Russia's improved drone capabilities and increasing attack frequency pose a significant threat.

Since Russia's full-scale invasion began in early 2022, railway officials reported approximately one attack weekly on railways. Since mid-summer 2025, this rate has more than doubled to about two or three attacks weekly, according to an AP review of public reports.

However, publicly reported incidents represent only a fraction of the total attacks on rail-related infrastructure, which may include damage to power lines, electrical substations, tracks, stations, and other facilities.

Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba, who oversees restoration and development, stated there have been 300 attacks on railway infrastructure since August alone—approximately 10 attacks weekly.

Ukraine's rail network is vital for transporting grain and metal exports to seaports and borders, as well as delivering military aid from allied nations.

According to Serhii Beskrestnov, a Ukrainian military and drone expert whose team studies intercepted Russian drones, Russian forces have implemented a crucial upgrade to their drone fleet since summer.

Cameras and radio modems have been integrated into various long-range strike drones, enabling operators to adjust flight paths in real-time and dramatically improving precision compared to preprogrammed models.

Beskrestnov warned that locomotives are particularly vulnerable to this new technology because they move relatively slowly and follow predictable routes.

"If the Russians keep hitting diesel and electric locomotives, the time will come very soon when the track will still be intact—but we'll have nothing left to run on it," he cautioned.

The modified drones can penetrate up to 200 kilometers into Ukrainian territory while streaming video back to operators in Russian-held areas, Beskrestnov added.

A Defense Ministry official, speaking anonymously due to lack of authorization to address reporters, confirmed Ukrainian forces have recovered and examined a Geran-type drone equipped with a civilian camera and radio modem. The Geran is a Russian variant of the Iranian-designed Shahed.

The official indicated these findings suggest Moscow is actively testing and refining new technical solutions. The camera capabilities also allow Russian operators to identify Ukrainian air defense systems and assess post-strike damage.

Throughout the conflict, Russian drones and missiles have repeatedly targeted railway infrastructure, primarily in regions near the front lines. In March, the rail operator also suffered a major cyberattack disrupting online ticketing and other services for a week.

Ukrainian repair crews work diligently to match the pace of Russian strikes. Debris from missile attacks is typically cleared within hours, and utility teams usually restore power and water within a day after strikes on Kyiv and other cities.

Railway repair teams operate on similar timelines. In Kyiv, railway repair team leader Maksym Shevchuk, 30, recalled when a missile destroyed 12 meters of track: "Traffic on the track was fully restored in half a day."

Freight volumes transported by rail from January through August 2025 decreased 11.7% compared to the previous year, while passenger traffic declined by 4.2%, according to the State Statistics Service, which did not specify reasons for these reductions.

Nataliia Kolesnichenko, senior economist at the Kyiv-based Center for Economic Strategy, described the impact thus far as "negative but marginal," crediting rapid repairs and train rerouting that minimize delays.

Pertsovskyi emphasized that railway staff take pride in maintaining operations despite the strikes: "For us, it is paramount to show Ukrainians—and the enemy—that these attacks are not going to bring the expected results."

(This content has been automatically generated from a syndicated feed.)