UKR: Why Ukraine’s trains are a top Russian target

BLUF: Ukrainian trains need their own drone protection as Russia uses strike drones with increased range to step up attacks on Ukrainian logistics routes.

An R&D electronics laboratory has been established within the Technical and Engineering Battalion to rapidly deploy engineering solutions that reduce personnel and equipment losses.

Finnish-Ukrainian defense partners have launched a battlefield testing project, with applications open until December 15.

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Over the past four months, at least 300 Russian strikes have targeted trains and railway infrastructure, according to statistics provided by Ukrainian Railways to The Arsenal. 

These attacks have become an especially acute problem in the border regions of Sumy and Chernihiv in northern Ukraine. 

It’s part of a systematic campaign to cripple Ukrainian logistics, as the Ukrainian army relies heavily on railways to transport vehicles, equipment, weapons, and other military supplies, as well as personnel. 

Video showing the attack on the Ukrainian train by Rubicon unit.

Russian forces are using various drones, including Lancet and Molniya kamikaze drones, the updated Shahed with manual remote control, and similar UAVs, to increase their strike range.

The goal behind these attacks is to sever connections with frontline territories, Oleksandr Pertsovskyi, chairman of Ukrainian Railways, wrote on Facebook. Russian forces are trying to block the main and reserve routes, he said.

Damage to the railway also harms logistics on the battlefield. Military equipment is transported mainly by train across the western border and within the country, said Oleksandr Kava, a former deputy minister for infrastructure.

While armored vehicles can travel independently, they require an enormous amount of fuel and would also be vulnerable to Russian attacks, so they are not a viable option to help counter the effects of railway attacks. 

Trains also transport large quantities of fuel for military equipment on the battlefield, which is why the Russians have used Shaheds to strike railway tank cars in border regions.

With hundreds of strikes launched against the railways in a matter of months, Russian forces have targeted tracks, substations, stations, and rolling stock, among other things, Sabina Ablyaeva, director of information policy at Ukrainian Railways, told The Arsenal.

She couldn't disclose the total amount of damage, which will only be determined after the end of hostilities. Law enforcement agencies are still documenting all the damage to Ukrainian Railways property. 

The Russians claim they are attacking trains with cargo meant for the army. But they often strike civilians. In October, a man was killed in a drone attack on a railway station in Shostka. More than two dozen other people were injured. 

There are two types of drones possibly being used by Russia to strike trains both while they are in motion, and when they’re standing still. 

Ukrainians first discovered fragments of a modernized Shahed kamikaze drone with a thermal camera, a new antenna, and a 50 kg warhead back in June. 

A single-board computer, the Nvidia Jetson, was also found integrated into the drone's optical module, providing automatic target guidance using machine vision. 

Beskrestnov proposes installing electronic warfare (EW) systems on locomotives, changing train schedules, and relocating stops.

But that may be easier said than done, as Karpiuk warns that EW is unreliable in this case. Suppressing the communications of Russian drones requires simultaneously jamming them with multiple devices, which is technically difficult to implement across all railway routes.

Suppressing communications to protect trains from drones is possible, but there are many complications, according to Serhii Herasymiuk, the founder of Antidrone Ukraine, an EW systems developer. 

Using EW on trains would require extra measures in order not to jam communications needed for the train to operate, such as: 

If these systems malfunction due to an unauthorized activation of the EW, it can cause an accident. 

Train conductors would also need to have drone detectors and access to the ‘Virazh-Planshet’ military software that analyzes the situation in the sky. 

Drone detectors detect control signals or video from enemy drones, but their range is only a few kilometers, Herasymiuk said, meaning they might not detect anything until it’s already too late. 

An analysis of captured Shaheds showed that the latest models can form mesh networks, in which each UAV serves as a repeater, relaying data to others, thereby strengthening connectivity for remote control and video transferring. In addition, they have a very wide operating frequency range and can fly to a target even if they've lost communication.

EW would thus be ineffective for suppressing the entire mesh network; many powerful, expensive systems would be needed, Herasymiuk said.

"This [jamming] will instead create more problems for existing alert and detection systems, for example, for passive radio frequency detectors or S-band [frequencies 2-4 GHz] radar stations, which can be prevented from detecting a target in time and transmitting information about it to units with kinetic air defense means," Herasymiuk explained.

The Ukrainian Lupynis-10-TFL-1 drone equipped with a terminal guidance system has been officially codified by the Ukrainian MoD. 

Compared to a standard FPV drone, it increases mission effectiveness 2–4 times while only raising the cost by 10%, Yaroslav Azhnyuk, founder of The Fourth Law, told The Arsenal.  

Using machine vision and autonomous modes, the drone can strike moving, stationary, and even camouflaged targets, and remain resistant to electronic warfare in the final phase of flight.

One of its key advantages is the special cruise mode, which allows the drone to autonomously continue along a set azimuth if the connection is lost. Soldiers can quickly master the guidance system, and the company actively works with drone pilots to provide training.

The Technical and Engineering Battalion was established in the Armed Forces of Ukraine in early 2024. It is built to NATO standards and operates as a multidisciplinary engineering unit. It brings together teams working on advanced camouflage, drone-interception technologies, and a range of engineering solutions that directly support frontline needs.

To reinforce these areas, a specialized R&D electronics laboratory has been established within the battalion. “The lab uses an agile, iterative process to rapidly prototype and deploy life-saving engineering solutions that have already proven to reduce losses of soldiers and equipment by 5–20% across supported brigades,” Daniel Connery, an authorized representative, told The Arsenal. 

The battalion develops its own solutions and also cooperates with Ukrainian manufacturers. However, the limitation to the battalion`s ability to scale remains the availability of donated resources and equipment, Connery added. 

Finnish defense technology accelerator 17Tech Oy is leading a new project in partnership with Ukrainian defense innovation bodies. The project offers a formal and legally-compliant way for European defense startups to conduct controlled battlefield testing in Ukraine.

Selected Western companies are now able to access structured testing programs, front-line feedback loops, and opportunities to deploy prototypes in controlled operational scenarios. The application deadline for European and allied country startups is December 15, 2025. 

According to Antti Kosunen, founding partner of 17Tech Oy, the program enables investments in various areas, but its priorities include:

The required Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) for entry are 3-7.

By: Oksana Zabolotna

Intellectual Property Rights to Objects Created During Military Service

Draft Law No. 13111 dated March 17, 2025

Why it’s important: The adopted law updates the Civil Code to clearly define how intellectual property rights are allocated when objects are created under an employment contract or during military service. It establishes uniform principles for personal non-property and proprietary rights, clarifies the range of IP right holders, and aligns the Civil Code with upcoming special legislation regulating intellectual property created in connection with military service.

Proposals:

Stage: The law is awaiting signature by the President of Ukraine after it was sent on November 7.

Initiator: A group of 14 Members of Parliament from the “Servant of the People” faction, led by Roman Kalaur.

What’s next: Implementation of the law.

Armadrone is opening the door to strategic partnerships in a €13 million (more than $15 million) drone manufacturing venture. The company plans to produce four types of UAVs aimed at both supplying the Armed Forces of Ukraine and scaling to international markets, especially NATO countries. 

Developers bring in the proprietary technology, software, and experienced team to ensure a rapid and efficient launch. 

“This is a full-cycle production opportunity — from advanced composite manufacturing to final testing — with strong potential for long-term growth," said Maksym Subotin, a representative of Armadrone.