Ukraine’s state-owned railway operator, Ukrzaliznytsia, confirmed Monday that a massive cyberattack targeted its systems, causing widespread disruption to its online ticket sales. Despite the attack, the country’s trains remain operational, running smoothly and on schedule.
The railway company issued an official statement on Telegram, revealing that the cyberattack crippled its digital ticketing platforms, including the mobile app. However, it reassured passengers that train services across Ukraine continue to operate without interruption.
On-the-ground reports from Kyiv highlighted the impact on travelers. Ukrainian journalist Daryna Antoniuk, reporting for The Record, described unusually long lines at Kyiv’s central railway station. Passengers crowded the station Monday morning, struggling to buy tickets for domestic and international routes due to the system outage.
In its announcement, Ukrzaliznytsia emphasized that the attackers failed to disrupt the core operations of the railway. A translated statement read: “The enemy failed to achieve the main objective — train traffic remains stable. Trains are running on time without delays, and all critical operational processes have switched to backup mode.”
To ease passenger concerns, the company urged travelers to head directly to their trains if they couldn’t purchase tickets in time from the station’s ticket office, offering an alternative to avoid missing their scheduled trips.
While the cyberattack caused significant inconvenience, Ukrzaliznytsia’s swift response ensured that essential transportation services across Ukraine were not derailed.
