Boss of Russian mercenary group writes to White House; US urges Ukraine to hold off on major offensive | War latest

By Yousra Elbagir, correspondent, in Kyiv

Walking through Kyiv’s Central Station with Oleksandr Kamyshin has the quality of accompanying a general touring his territory. His authority clears a path through the crowds as he guides us with a brisk stride. His staff stand a little straighter when he walks past. 

“I visit the station once a day. Some days, more than once. I think boots on the ground is the best approach during the war,” says the 39-year-old railway chief. 

The landmark station has the austere brutalist facade of a Soviet-era building. But the inside is far from grey. A tall Christmas tree stands at the centre of the terminal, lit by an exercise bike and the turning wheels of the train that evacuated Ukrainians from Irpin back in spring. Facing the tree is a photo booth with a backdrop piled with prop presents. 

The interactive attractions will not be taken down until the Eastern Orthodox Christmas is celebrated on 7 January.

“It’s important to boost morale,” says Mr Kamyshin, proudly pointing out the new features. “Do you hear that? Music.” 

Instead of a steady stream of shouty train announcements, the platforms where thousands of evacuated Ukrainian women and children passed through now permeate with the sound of pop tunes. 

Ukraine’s railway system has evacuated four million people since the start of the war. Its 27,000 kilometres of track stretches across the country and has been a critical lifeline, transporting emergency supplies and aid as well as people. 

Mr Kamyshin was appointed CEO of Ukrainian Railways only six months before the Russian invasion in February. Since then, his job has been to manage the network and maintain its functionality while under the threat of targeted attacks. 

In April, a Russian missile fired into the eastern station of Kramatorsk killed 60 people and wounded more than 110. It is still one of the deadliest air strikes in the war so far. The missile left on the grounds of the station was emblazoned with a dark message – “for the children”. 

To date, 307 railway workers have been killed and 665 injured in the war. The railway employs 231,000 people and is the largest workforce in the country.

“We are the second army of Ukraine,” Mr Kamyshin tells us in the cabin of a sleeper train travelling from Kyiv to Dnipro.

Under the shelter of air defence, the trains continue to trudge along. A reliable childhood comfort for many and a backbone for a country at war.