Ukrainian Railways

Operating under the legal name Public Joint Stock Company "Ukrainian Railways" (PAT Ukrzaliznytsia), this state-owned entity manages a network spanning approximately 20,000 kilometers of track. Founded on January 1, 1991, immediately following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the organization inherited the Ukrainian section of the vast Soviet railway system. It currently ranks as the sixth-largest passenger rail operator and the seventh-largest freight transporter globally by revenue and operational scope.

The infrastructure features a unique dual-gauge configuration where most lines utilize the Russian standard broad gauge (1,520 mm) for domestic travel and connections to Russia and Belarus. Strategic standard-gauge (1,435 mm) lines have been constructed and expanded to facilitate seamless freight and passenger trade with European Union neighbors. Key passenger hubs include Kyiv-Pasazhyrskyi, Lviv, and Kharkiv stations, while the company recently launched modernized amenities such as child-friendly carriages developed in partnership with Visa to enhance family travel safety.

CEO Oleksandr Kamyshin has led the company since 2019, steering it through digital transformation and logistical efficiency efforts despite the ongoing war. As of late October 2026, the network faces existential threats from sustained Russian military aggression, which explicitly targets the railway system to dismantle Ukrainian logistics. Recent drone strikes have killed at least 13 people at central stations, and attacks near border crossings have disrupted supply chains. Despite severe damage to tracks, rolling stock, and stations in eastern and southern regions, the company continues to operate evacuation routes and maintain essential freight corridors to Poland and other EU nations. [edit]