Enemy trying to disrupt subway operations in Kharkiv, mayor says

Russian troops are trying to interrupt subway commute in Kharkiv, inflicting missile strikes on the operator’s infrastructure.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov spoke of this on the air of the national telethon, Ukrinform reports.

“This is not the first shelling targeting our subway – deliberate shelling. The occupiers want the subway to stop its work. But together with the operator’s management, we have organized operations in such a way that the subway keeps working. Indeed, today the intervals are longer than they were in peaceful times. The trains were damaged, but today we are coping with this because passenger traffic is lighter than in peacetime,” Terekhov said.

The mayor added that new trains would have to be purchased for the city subway. To this end, the mayor turned to partner cities, which have their own subway, to provide a few trains to Kharkiv residents if it is possible.

Terekhov noted that besides the subway, commuters are able to use a range of surface transport - trams, trolleybuses, and municipal buses. All commute is currently free of charge.

"The city budget has taken over the costs because we understand that people have no money, no jobs," the mayor said.

As reported, on the night of July 13, Russian troops launched a missile attack on the subway depot, damaging the premises and trains. This is not the first shelling targeting the site. As a result of the attacks, six trains sustained damage.

The Kharkiv subway resumed operation on May 24. Until then, since the full-scale invasion, subway stations had served only as bomb shelters.