First train to Donbas back on track

Synopsis

A passenger train travels into the war zone of eastern Ukraine, marking the first service to Kramatorsk in six months. The journey, which takes seven hours, carries 60 passengers, including Elena Fiodarrova and her two children, who are returning home after spending half a year in Poland. The train service was suspended in April following a missile attack that killed over 50 people at the Kramatorsk station. As the war continues, railways play a crucial role in evacuating millions and supplying essential goods. Train driver Alexander Sihanyuk emphasizes the importance of this connection, stating it provides moral support to the people of Donbas, reinforcing that the region remains part of Ukraine. Recent territorial gains by the Ukrainian military have made this train service possible, as the front line has moved further away from the tracks, allowing for safer travel despite ongoing threats to railway infrastructure.