The Russian Armed Forces have changed their approach to striking Ukraine’s railway infrastructure, according to Viktor Taran, head of the Ukrainian UAV Operators Center «Kruk».

Taran explained that Moscow is now focusing not on damaging rail tracks, but on destroying locomotives at major depot hubs — a tactic he described as a serious threat capable of paralyzing frontline supply chains. He noted that while damaged tracks can be repaired relatively quickly, the destruction of locomotives creates a critical bottleneck for Ukraine’s military logistics.

As an example, Taran pointed to a recent Russian strike on a locomotive depot in Poltava, a key junction linking eastern and western parts of the country. Locomotives, he stressed, are complex and expensive pieces of equipment that cannot be replaced quickly. Moreover, the factories that produce them are themselves vulnerable to missile strikes.

The destruction of even a few locomotives, he warned, could temporarily cripple vital transportation routes, disrupting the delivery of ammunition and fuel and hindering the evacuation of wounded soldiers from the eastern front.

Taran emphasized that Russia’s strategy now targets «the heart of the railway system» rather than the rails themselves. Without a stable rail network, frontline logistics would cease to function properly, significantly reducing the Ukrainian army’s mobility.

He concluded that if Ukrainian forces fail to protect their rolling stock, the country could soon face severe logistical challenges along the front.