Igor works for Ukrainian Railways and is based at a depot near his country’s borders with Slovakia and Hungary.
As train driver he plays a key role for the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes, which were set up by the EU, Ukraine and Moldova following Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
"I play the role of both training other drivers and also supervising the work of other employees. Ukrainian Railways transports the entire range of possible materials, from bulky freight, to liquid cargo, which is oil products, gasoline, diesel", he says.
These new and upgraded transport connections bring Ukraine and the EU closer together, and keep essential imports and exports flowing, by road, inland waterways and rail.
"The railway is not only important now — it has always been important — but at the moment it is mega important", he says.
Train drivers like Igor have kept working hard to keep people and goods moving despite the dangers of war.
"We are at war, we are living during the war. There have been repeated cases of injuries. Unfortunately, there were employees who died, who risked their lives to transport both people and cargo”, he says.
“We are working, no matter what.”
Thanks to the efforts of transport workers like Igor, the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes are bringing the EU, Moldova and Ukraine closer together than ever before.
