Russian Drones Strike Ukrainian Railways for Third Time in September, Targeting Vinnytsia Oblast

Russian forces struck a railway infrastructure facility in Vinnytsia Oblast on the morning of 20 September, the latest in a series of drone attacks on Ukraine’s rail network this month. No casualties were reported, but the attacks underscore Moscow’s continued effort to disrupt supply lines critical to Ukraine’s war effort.

The Vinnytsia Oblast Military Administration reported that the attack occurred early on 20 September. Firefighters from the State Emergency Service extinguished a blaze that broke out at the site, according to a statement published by Ukrainska Pravda. The statement did not specify the exact facility or the extent of damage, but noted that no one was injured.

The attack was part of a larger Russian aerial assault on the night of 19–20 September. Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 138 drones of various types, half of which were jet-powered, according to Vinnytsia region officials.

The 20 September strike follows two earlier drone attacks on Ukrainian railways this month. On 12 September, Russian forces attacked railway facilities in the cities of Lutsk, in Volyn Oblast, and Fastiv, in Kyiv Oblast, according to reports from Ukrainska Pravda. Just a day later, on 13 September, a train carrying former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and an adviser to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was evacuated near the Polish border due to a drone threat, Ukrainska Pravda reported. Neither Johnson nor the adviser was harmed, and the train was able to continue its journey after the all-clear.

The repeated targeting of railway infrastructure is a deliberate strategy by the Russian military to hamper the movement of military supplies, equipment, and personnel. Ukraine’s railway system, operated by Ukrainian Railways, has been a vital artery for both civilian logistics and military resupply since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. Disrupting rail connections complicates the delivery of Western-provided ammunition, fuel, and spare parts to front-line units.

No injuries have been reported in any of the September railway attacks. However, train delays are possible in the affected regions as Ukrainian Railways assesses damage and resumes normal operations. The attacks also come as Ukraine prepares for the winter months, when rail transport becomes even more critical for moving heating fuel and other essential goods.

The State Emergency Service in Vinnytsia has confirmed that the fire on 20 September was contained quickly, and no further infrastructure damage has been reported. Authorities have not said whether train schedules in the region will be affected.

Marta Kovalenko exclusively for Ukraine Desk