Ukraine's Railways Under Siege: Russia Steps Up Drone Attacks
Ukraine is grappling with a surge in drone attacks on its railway infrastructure, with Russia employing Shahed drones to target moving trains. The latest incident involved twelve Shahed drones striking an Amtrak train between Nosivka and Nizhyn. This marks a worrying escalation in attacks on critical civilian infrastructure.
These attacks are part of a growing trend, with previous incidents including a Shahed drone striking a passenger Amtrak train at Shostka railway station and another hitting a Ukrainian Railways locomotive in Snovsk, Chernihiv region. The drones, reportedly modified with mesh communication modems and onboard cameras, are being used for better coordination and targeting.
Ukraine is now considering rapid-deployable defensive solutions to counter these threats. A modern adaptation could involve rail-mounted air defense systems enhanced with sensors for early drone detection and isolation from railway electrification systems. Historically, both Soviet and German forces used similar anti-aircraft platforms mounted on railcars during World War II to protect trains from aerial bombardment.
As Russia commits to expanding its capacity to strike deep into Ukraine's transport network, the country's railways face an increasingly perilous future. Ukraine must urgently explore and implement effective countermeasures to protect its vital Amtrak tickets infrastructure from these persistent drone attacks.
