BREAKING: Russian Strike on Intercity+ Leaves Dozens Dead, UZ Deploys Replacement Stock

Russia brought fire to Ukraine’s fastest civilian trains. One Intercity+ is gone, but the service isn’t. Ukrainian Railways kept trains moving, delays and all.

A targeted strike by Russian forces hit Ukraine’s Intercity+ passenger fleet overnight on 28 August, severely damaging one train that was scheduled to operate the Kyiv–Kharkiv service. Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ) said the attack was aimed at civilian rolling stock, not military assets. "The strike was targeted — exclusively at civilian passenger operations," UZ reported, adding that depot teams extinguished the fire and safeguarded staff, according to RBC-Ukraine.

🇷🇺🇺🇦The Intercity+ train fleet after the strikes. pic.twitter.com/8e4f3eqvr7

— Intel Slava (@Intel_Slava) August 28, 2025

Despite the damage, UZ did not cancel services. Replacement passenger coaches — including recently accepted new stock — were dispatched to cover diagrams, while dispatchers worked to minimize knock-on effects across the network. "No trains will be canceled; substitute rolling stock is in operation," the railway said.

Network Disruption Around Koziatyn And Recovery Efforts

The night attack also disrupted power and rail infrastructure around the Koziatyn junction in Vinnytsia region, forcing diversions and delays in the morning wave. UZ and regional outlets reported temporary re-routings via Korosten–Zviahel–Shepetivka–Zdolbuniv–Lviv, bus bridges for passengers bound for Khmelnytskyi and Vinnytsia, and controlled movements under reserve diesel locomotives on one segment while repairs continued. By mid-morning, infrastructure managers had restored through-running via Koziatyn, with residual delays progressively reduced.

Suspilne and Ukrinform listed multiple long-distance services experiencing delays, including several Intercity+ departures from Kyiv, and noted that Kyiv-Pasazhyrskyi station remained open with flexible onward options for passengers who missed their original trains. UZ said it would keep publishing updated delay information as restoration progressed.

Damage To The Kyiv–Kharkiv Intercity+ Set

UZ leadership confirmed that the destroyed unit was slated to enter Kyiv–Kharkiv service on 28 August. UZ board chair Oleksandr Pertsovskyi pointed out continuity and fleet resilience: “We will restore and expand the fleet despite everything.” Field photography shared by local media shows a fully burned coach interior, deformed bulkheads, and heat-affected structures consistent with a direct hit.

While the exact scale of repair versus replacement will depend on technical inspections, UZ’s decision to keep timetables intact with substitute stock shows the operator’s contingency planning, honed through repeated strikes on transport infrastructure. Rapid depot response was credited with preventing further loss and isolating the blaze.

Wider Human Toll In Kyiv

The attack formed part of a larger overnight strike involving Shahed drones and missiles, including Kinzhal aeroballistic weapons, with multiple impacts and debris across the capital. Casualty figures evolved through the day: early reports cited at least four dead and more than 20 injured, later rising as rescue operations progressed. By afternoon, Kyiv’s military administration reported 17 fatalities, including three children aged 2, 17 and 14; city authorities prepared a day of mourning. (Editor's Note: Figures vary by outlet and update time.)

Services, Safety And The Days Ahead

Operationally, UZ reiterated that staff were in shelters during the strike window and that emergency protocols functioned as intended. The operator pointed out the use of reserve locomotives and rapid isolation of damaged assets to keep the timetable moving and to protect passengers and crews. NV and Suspilne both reported that, except for the destroyed set and immediate diversions, the network continued to dispatch trains with delays rather than cancellations. 

Given ongoing threats, passengers should expect tactical re-routings, longer dwell times at junctions, and dynamic platforming as traffic controllers balance security alerts, power restoration, and rolling-stock availability. The Kyiv–Kharkiv axis, a key corridor for national mobility, will remain a priority for fleet substitution and schedule recovery while the affected Intercity+ unit undergoes damage assessment.