Ukraine Is Running Out of Spare Locomotives as Russian Strikes Threaten Exports

Ukraine is seeking replacement locomotives from European partners after Russian strikes nearly exhausted its reserves, threatening the rail deliveries that keep the country’s Black Sea exports moving. Ukraine is negotiating with countries whose railways use the same track gauge, the FT reported, citing Agriculture Minister Taras Vysotskyi. The talks are aimed at securing additional rolling stock to replace equipment lost in Russian attacks.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The pressure is already being felt at one of Ukraine’s major maritime gateways. Mykyta Hrubov, chief executive of port operator TIS, told the newspaper that three locomotives had been lost in the area around the company’s terminal at the port of Pivdennyi. He described the shortage as a bottleneck in port logistics. Russia has intensified attacks in recent weeks on trains carrying grain and iron ore, two key Ukrainian export commodities. The losses threaten the inland transport network on which maritime trade depends. Restoring port operations therefore leaves another challenge unresolved: getting enough cargo to the berths. A shortage of locomotives can constrain shipments even when conditions allow vessels to load and sail. Ukraine had already appealed publicly for help replenishing its locomotive fleet before the latest report. On Sept. 15, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Russian attacks had damaged or destroyed more than 500 locomotives since the full-scale invasion began, with more than half of those losses occurring in 2026. Other Topics of Interest Russian Attack Sends Projectile Into Bus at Moldova Border A passenger bus and control booth were damaged at the Palanca crossing during Russia’s Monday attack on Ukraine. He urged partners to help find locomotives compatible with Ukraine’s 1,520-millimeter track gauge and provide financing to accelerate purchases of new equipment. The request highlights a practical constraint on replacement efforts: Ukraine needs locomotives that can operate on its railway network. Sybiha said the railway also carries essential supplies and evacuates civilians from frontline areas, making replacement locomotives necessary to sustain both economic activity and humanitarian operations. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.