The German Embassy urged its citizens to avoid train travel in Ukraine before and after August 24
Diplomats warned of a possible escalation of Russian strikes on railways, transport hubs, and energy infrastructure
The German Embassy in Ukraine has updated safety recommendations for its citizens. Diplomats advise them, where possible, to refrain from train travel in the days before and after 24 August — Ukraine’s Independence Day. This was reported by Deutsche Welle, citing the diplomatic mission.
The embassy noted that during this period an intensification of Russian attacks on energy infrastructure and transport hubs cannot be ruled out. Separately, the German diplomats warned about the risks of rail travel, as Ukrainian rail infrastructure and trains remain targets of Russian strikes.
The diplomatic mission also reminded that in recent weeks Russian forces have increasingly attacked railways, including trains in transit.
13 August in Odesa region a Russian strike drone hit the locomotive of a passenger train. The driver and his assistant were killed while stopping the train so passengers could evacuate.
The same day, Russian forces attacked another locomotive for the second time while it was performing shunting operations. A child was injured in the attack. 525 people were evacuated from the train, including 130 children.
The general recommendation of the German Foreign Ministry to refrain from travel to Ukraine due to Russia’s full-scale war remains in effect.
The embassy warning was published against the backdrop of reports about a possible new wave of Russian strikes on Kyiv‘s energy infrastructure. Earlier, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported that Russia may be preparing a large-scale campaign of attacks on the capital’s energy facilities in the coming weeks.
According to the Center for Strategic Communications, which cites U.S. intelligence, Russia may be preparing strikes on Kyiv’s energy facilities ahead of Independence Day. For this, according to the estimates cited, the Russian side may use its strategic reserve of ballistic missiles.
