Cyber Crime
Railways Under Attack! Ukraine Battles Cyber Warfare to Keep Trains Moving
A large-scale cyberattack has struck Ukrzaliznytsia, Ukraine’s state-owned railway operator, causing widespread disruption to its online services, including its mobile ticketing app. However, the railway operator remains resolute, ensuring that train schedules continue without delays despite the digital assault.
Chaos at Kyiv’s Central Railway Station
Following the cyberattack, Kyiv’s central railway station saw an unusual surge in passengers on Monday morning, with long queues forming at ticket counters. Frustrated travelers, who typically relied on the mobile app for ticket purchases, were forced to stand in lines for domestic and international travel. In response, Ukrzaliznytsia doubled the number of ticket windows and deployed additional staff to manage the situation.
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Despite the inconvenience, the company reassured the public that train operations remain unaffected. “The railway continues to function even in the face of physical attacks on infrastructure and cannot be stopped by even the most insidious cyberattacks,” Ukrzaliznytsia stated. The attack was described as “systematic, complex, and multi-layered,” requiring thorough cybersecurity assessments before full restoration.
Investigation Underway, No Attribution Yet
Ukraine’s security agencies, including the SBU Cyber Department and CERT-UA, are actively investigating the cyber incident, but no specific hacker group has been officially named as responsible. The government has yet to release any technical details regarding the breach.
Meanwhile, the UAE Cyber Security Council announced on the same day that it had thwarted 634 cyberattacks targeting critical public and private sector systems, preventing potential data breaches and operational disruptions.
Resilience Amid Repeated Cyber Assaults
Ukrzaliznytsia has been a frequent target of both cyber and physical attacks, particularly from Russian forces. Acknowledging the growing threat, the railway operator has implemented robust backup protocols to ensure continuity. “The enemy’s objective has failed—train services remain stable, and all essential functions have switched to backup systems,” the company affirmed.
To ease passenger concerns, Ukrzaliznytsia urged travelers with pre-purchased tickets to use PDF copies sent via email or visit the station 20 minutes before departure to validate their bookings. Military personnel were granted the ability to buy tickets directly from train conductors to ensure their movement was not hindered.
As the company works with cybersecurity experts to patch vulnerabilities and restore affected systems, it has not provided a specific recovery timeline. Nonetheless, Ukrzaliznytsia remains steadfast, emphasizing that despite the persistent threat of cyber warfare, Ukraine’s railways continue to move forward—undeterred and unyielding.