Russian strikes leave Ukraine with almost no spare locomotives, further complicating grain exports

Russian strikes have left Ukraine with an almost depleted supply of locomotives, further complicating the country's already strained grain exports, according to Taras Vysotskyi, Ukraine’s minister of agrarian policy and food. The minister made this statement to the Financial Times. Ukrainian officials are currently in discussions with European allies regarding the supply of locomotives that are compatible with Ukraine’s track gauge of 1,520 mm.

Freight trains transport crucial exports such as grain, ore, and other cargo. The dwindling number of locomotives further exacerbates Ukraine's challenges in exporting grain. Vysotskyi estimates that if the ports remain closed, Ukraine could lose a staggering $8 billion between June 2026 and June 2027. The situation at Meduza is one of transparency, with the story being written by a live journalist and translated into English using an AI model that adheres to strict editorial standards.

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