How the railways became the lifeline of logistics, evacuation and diplomacy during the war

Every year on 4 November, Ukraine celebrates Railway Workers’ Day — a professional holiday for those who ensure the smooth running of the country’s railway network. Today, this holiday has special significance, as since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian railway workers have become a true ‘steel pillar’ of the entire nation.

Carrying out their professional duties under fire, quickly repairing the tracks following enemy attacks, saving millions of lives and providing logistical support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine have turned every shift worked by railway staff into a daily act of civilian heroism.

Why 4 November in particular: the history of the date

The history of this date dates back to the second half of the 19th century. It is believed that it was on 4 November 1861 that the first passenger train, named ‘Yaroslav’, arrived at Lviv railway station from Vienna via Przemyśl. This event marked the beginning of the era of rail transport in what is now Ukraine.

The 4 November public holiday was officially established by a Presidential Decree in 2002, replacing the previous date (August), and has since brought together hundreds of thousands of railway track maintenance workers, locomotive crews, station staff, signalmen and maintenance engineers.

Iron diplomacy and the logistics of resilience

During the most difficult periods of the war, Ukrzaliznytsia carried out several tasks that were critical to Ukraine’s survival and defence:

• Large-scale evacuation: railway workers have evacuated more than 4 million people from areas under shelling and from combat zones, as well as hundreds of thousands of tonnes of humanitarian aid and hundreds of businesses.
• Iron Diplomacy: with airspace closed, trains became the only reliable and safe means of transport for bringing the heads of foreign states, governments and international organisations to Kyiv.
• Military and civilian logistics: ensuring the transport of fuel, grain, coal and building materials, and supporting export and import supply chains whilst seaports are blockaded.

The price of ‘unwavering’ loyalty

At the same time, Ukraine’s railway infrastructure remains one of the main targets of enemy missile and drone attacks. Railway stations, depots, stops and power substations are being systematically destroyed, whilst staff themselves often find themselves at the centre of the attacks whilst carrying out their duties.

Despite the risks, repair crews head out to the sites immediately after fires and shelling have been brought under control, restoring rail services as quickly as possible.

Railway Workers’ Day is an opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to every track worker, train driver, conductor and engineer for their professionalism, resilience and fortitude.

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