Russia’s Drones Hunt Ukraine’s Trains as Grain Exports Collapse to One-Third
Ukraine’s farm exports have crashed to just one-third of normal levels because Russian drones are now systematically targeting the country’s rail network, destroying more than 250 locomotives in the last six months [229374]. After pushing most ships away from Ukrainian ports, Moscow’s unmanned aircraft are crippling the alternative supply routes for grain and other goods [229374][225063]. The attacks have left millions of tonnes of harvest stranded, deepening the economic damage and threatening global food supplies [225063].
The shift in Russian tactics comes as Ukraine struggles to move what it still produces. With fewer trains running, farmers cannot get their goods to market, and Kyiv is urgently seeking alternative solutions to keep the agricultural sector alive [229374][225063]. The damage is not just to machinery—it cuts deep into the economy and international food security [229374].
The rail strikes are part of a broader Russian campaign against infrastructure, including overnight missile and drone barrages on Ukrainian ports, industrial sites, and warehouse facilities [228955]. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted a significant number of incoming drones and missiles, but some strikes broke through, hitting their intended targets [228955]. Officials confirmed the assaults focused on critical infrastructure, though full damage assessments were still underway [228955].
Meanwhile, the pressure on Russia’s own military is mounting. Western officials report that Moscow is losing about 6,000 more troops in Ukraine each month than it can recruit, despite signing up roughly 1,000 new soldiers per day [229493]. That gap over the last two months highlights growing strain on Russia’s manpower as the war grinds on [229493].