BR trying to return 7,000 cars from Ukraine, chief says

September 19, BPN. On February 24, when Russia invaded Ukraine, Belarusian Railway had over 7,000 cars in Ukraine, Uładzimir Marozaŭ, head of the state-run rail operator, told STV.

According to Marozaŭ, the cars were used for transporting the entire range of goods that Belarus traded with Ukraine, including oil products, chemical fertilizers, construction materials and food.

“Now the railway cars have an unclear status. We have information that they are targeted by a freezing order as part of a criminal investigation,” he said. “Most likely, the cars have been used for transportation and might be involved in different events,” he added. According to Marozaŭ, neither the Ukrainian infrastructure ministry nor Ukrainian Railways contacted Belarus regarding the issue.

The official said that Belarusian Railway seeks to return the rolling stock and assess the damage. He noted that 5,000 cars cost about 900 million rubels (about $355 million) in current prices.

Two Belarusian plants will start manufacture rolling stock within five years to make up for the losses, Marozaŭ said. 

Ukraine has seized some Belarusian businesses’ property because it considers Minsk a co-aggressor.

About 500 Ukrainian cars and two locomotives remain in Belarus, Marozaŭ said, adding that Belarusian authorities have not seized the rolling stock but monitor its location.