The German Embassy in Kyiv has advised German citizens currently in Ukraine to avoid travelling by train in the run-up to 24 August, if possible. The German Foreign Ministry attributes the tightening of these recommendations to the risk of increased Russian attacks on infrastructure and civilian targets. This is consular advice, not a decision to suspend Ukrainian train services.
Briefly about the main points
- Berlin has advised Germans in Ukraine to avoid travelling by train where possible.
- The German Foreign Ministry anticipates an increase in Russian attacks around Independence Day.
- The general German travel advisory against travelling to Ukraine remains in force.
Berlin anticipates an increase in attacks on infrastructure
In its updated advice, the German Foreign Office has stated that during the period around Ukraine’s Independence Day An intensification of Russian attacks cannot be ruled out. The agency cites transport hubs, energy infrastructure and civilian facilities as potential targets.
According to Berlin’s assessment, Russian air strikes involving missiles, cruise missiles and drones could affect all regions of the country. The updated guidance was published on 14 August, and the changes came into effect on 13 August.
The railway remains one of the targets of Russian strikes
The German Embassy has reiterated that Ukraine’s railway infrastructure and the railway operators themselves remain targets of Russian air strikes. Diplomats have paid particular attention to travel by train following the latest strikes on railway facilities.
On 13 August, a jet-powered attack drone struck a passenger train in the Odesa region. According to preliminary information from Ukrzaliznytsia, the train driver and his assistant were killed, whilst the passengers were unharmed.
Germany’s advisory is not a transport directive for Ukrzaliznytsia and does not impose an official ban on rail travel. It is a safety recommendation for German citizens.
What safety precautions does the German Foreign Office recommend?
Germany’s general travel advisory against travel to Ukraine remains in place. The ministry advises those who need to be in the country for professional reasons to draw up a safety plan in good time.
German citizens are advised to download the Ukrainian air-raid alert app, identify the nearest shelter, follow updates from local authorities and the media, observe the curfew and register on the Foreign Office’s crisis list. The ministry notes that the situation may change rapidly, and the scope for consular assistance in Ukraine remains limited.
