Train Travel in Ukraine During War: What to Expect in 2025

No flight. No car. Just a night train rolling through the dark, across a country at war.

For thousands of Ukrainians, this is everyday life.
For many foreign visitors, it’s the most unforgettable part of their journey.

Railway travel in Ukraine has become a symbol of connection, courage, and continuity. The trains never stopped — not even when missiles hit tracks, when power was lost, when whole cities were under fire.

So what is it like to travel across Ukraine by train in 2025?

🚆 1. Boarding the Train in a Border City

Most visitors enter Ukraine through Poland (Przemyśl), Slovakia, or Romania.
At the station, you’ll see:

• Volunteers offering tea and SIM cards

• Journalists loading gear

• Families reuniting or saying goodbye

Then a familiar sound cuts through the air — the whistle of a blue-and-yellow Ukrzaliznytsia train, often running 30–90 minutes late. But always running.

🌒 2. Travel by Night: More Than Just Movement

Why night trains?
Because of curfews, long distances, and limited fuel, most travel happens overnight. Sleeper cars become shared sanctuaries.

Onboard, you may find:

• Soldiers returning to base

• Aid workers journaling by flashlight

• Foreigners asking quietly, “Is this safe?”

You’ll hear the rhythmic clack of wheels, feel the sway, and smell black tea from the conductors’ samovars. In a way, the train becomes Ukraine itself: old, durable, full of stories.

⚠️ 3. What Makes These Trains Unique Today

• No blackout curtains — total darkness is safety

• No consistent power — bring a power bank

• No formal meal service — but locals will share what they have

• No panic — even under sirens, people stay calm

It’s a ride that humbles even experienced travelers.
“I was anxious at first,” says Kevin, a visitor from the UK. “But the calm of the passengers calmed me.”

💬 4. Stories from the Rails

Some visitors report unforgettable encounters:

“A woman offered me her blanket. She’d just lost her home. She still smiled.”
“A kid asked if I had games on my phone. He was going to Kyiv for treatment.”
“We shared tea. We shared silence. No words needed.”

It’s not tourism. It’s testimony.

🧭 5. Where You Can Go by Train in Wartime

• Kyiv — well connected, multiple daily routes

• Lviv — main entry point from Poland

• Kharkiv — service running, with precautions

• Odesa — southern hub with periodic delays

• Dnipro & Zaporizhzhia — only via special routes, ideally with guides

Not all regions are accessible. Some require permission or should be avoided entirely. But with proper planning, the Ukrainian railway remains the safest and most authentic way to travel deep into the country.

🧠 Why Take the Train Instead of a Tour Bus?

Because the train is more than transport — it’s a moving classroom, a cultural corridor, a peace-time relic navigating war.
You don’t just see the country — you listen to its heartbeat.

📌 Want to ride Ukraine’s wartime rails?

We offer custom itineraries combining train segments with guided walking tours, photography stops, and museum visits — all tailored to your safety and interests.