Ukrzaliznytsia has revealed a new scheme through which the Russian Federation is attempting to obtain intelligence data on Ukraine's railway. According to the company, the adversary is deliberately seeking Ukrainians willing to provide information about Ukrzaliznytsia facilities, their locations and technical condition, as well as the movement of military cargo. The company warns that the information obtained could be used to plan further strikes on railway infrastructure.
Money and "anonymous tasks": how recruitment works
Ukrzaliznytsia emphasized that cooperation offers may be disguised as harmless "anonymous tasks" and accompanied by promises of financial reward. The typical phrasing used by recruiters comes in a few variants: photographing a Ukrzaliznytsia facility or reporting its geolocation; damaging railway property or carrying out another sabotage task against the company. In response to such offers, the company insists, one should refuse and not share any data, as any such information directly aids the adversary.
Where to report suspicious contacts
To document recruitment attempts and sabotage offers, the company specifies dedicated communication channels. Suspicious messages can be reported via the anonymous Telegram bot "SBU / Hotline: Railway", as well as by the number +38(099) 803 50 81 in WhatsApp, Telegram, or Viber. Ukrzaliznytsia directly urged citizens not to aid the adversary and not to engage with those offering such "tasks".
Critical infrastructure under enhanced protection
The warning about the intelligence scheme came against the backdrop of ongoing attacks on railway infrastructure. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the protection of the railway, gas stations, and other critical enterprises from Russian strikes will be strengthened in the country. Meanwhile, according to available data, on September 16 a drone attacked train No. 122 on the "Kyiv — Mykolaiv" route; 168 passengers were evacuated, with no reported casualties.
Context: the railway continues to operate
Despite the threats and isolated incidents, Ukrzaliznytsia maintains its operational activity. According to the company, in summer it carried 8.14 million passengers, compared to 8.07 million a year earlier, indicating a stable passenger flow. At the same time, train services on certain routes are periodically restricted for safety reasons, and the tariff policy for freight transport is being adjusted. Against this backdrop, protecting facilities from espionage and sabotage becomes a key element of ensuring transport security.
