Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga has urged Western partners to provide Kiev with locomotives following Russian strikes on railway infrastructure in the Volyn Region.

Sibiga said Ukraine urgently needs help locating locomotives compatible with the 1,520 mm rail gauge and securing funding for accelerated purchases of new rolling stock. According to the minister, Russian drone strikes have destroyed or damaged more than 250 locomotives in Ukraine since the beginning of 2026. He said the total number of locomotives hit since the conflict began has exceeded 500.

The latest figure marks an increase from data cited in early July by Communities Development Minister Alexey Kuleba, who said at the time that more than 200 Ukrainian locomotives had been hit since the start of the year. Based on those figures, another 50 locomotives were lost or damaged over roughly two months.

Another railway incident was reported on September 16, when the Kiev-Nikolayev passenger train came under attack and a fire broke out. Ukrzaliznytsia said the locomotive crew, train staff and passengers had been evacuated. No casualties were reported.

A day earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry reported a strike on a railway train near Rymachi in the Volyn Region. The ministry said the train was being used to transport military cargo.

Repeated strikes on railway infrastructure and locomotives involved in supplying Ukrainian forces are putting additional pressure on the country’s military transport logistics.