A cyberattack on Monday disabled Ukraine’s online railway ticketing system, leading to long lines at stations. Ukrainian officials blamed Russia, claiming it was an attempt to “destabilize” the country.
Train Services Continue Despite the Hack
Since Ukraine’s railway is essential for both passengers and freight, the disruption caused significant inconvenience. Because of Russia’s 2022 invasion, air travel remains suspended due to frequent missile and drone attacks. However, despite the cyberattack, train operations continued without interruption.
Meanwhile, the online ticketing system remained down for more than 24 hours. On Sunday, the railway company informed passengers about the outage and advised them to buy tickets at stations or onboard trains. Additionally, Ukrzaliznytsia described the cyberattack as “very systemic, unusual, and multi-level” on Telegram.
Passengers Struggle to Buy Tickets
As a result, long queues formed at Kyiv’s central station by Monday morning. Since the booking offices had limited availability, tickets were only sold for travel until Tuesday.
Although Ukrzaliznytsia did not directly accuse Russia, security officials strongly suspected Russian involvement. In fact, both a security official and a government source, who spoke anonymously, pointed to Russian hackers as the likely culprits.
Hackers Aim to Spread Fear
Furthermore, a security official explained that the cyberattack aimed to create psychological pressure and destabilize the country. “It was some hacker group. We think that they are Russians. It is a strong strike but not critical,” a government source added.
Because trains have been Ukraine’s main mode of transportation since 2022, they remain vital for domestic and international travel. Not only do they carry passengers, but they also transport weapons and equipment. In fact, Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba stated that the railway system moved 20 million passengers and 148 million tonnes of freight in 2024.
Railway Officials Respond Swiftly
Despite the attack, officials acted quickly to keep trains running. Ukrzaliznytsia board chairman Oleksandr Pertsovskyi reassured the public on national television. He said, “Operational traffic did not stop for a single moment. The enemy attack was aimed at stopping trains, but we quickly switched to backup systems.”
In conclusion, although the cyberattack disrupted ticketing services, Ukraine’s railway system remains functional. However, the government remains on high alert for future cyber threats.
