The Ukrainian railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia has announced new international train services to Poland. From there, passengers can continue their journey to Munich, Berlin and Stuttgart. However, Russian air strikes are also jeopardising travel routes in western Ukraine. Due to possible delays, connections must be planned meticulously.
On 21 October, the Ukrainian railway company Ukrzaliznytsia announced new international train services to Poland, designed to make travelling from Ukraine to European cities easier. For Ukrainians living in Germany, connections to Munich, Berlin and other German cities are particularly important.
Modern carriages
Among the new services is the premium train No. 23/24 on the Kyiv–Chełm route. It is named after the Ukrainian historian and chairman of the Central Council in the early 20th century, Mykhailo Hrushevsky. The train connects two cities of particular significance to his life: Chełm, where Hrushevsky was born, and Kyiv, where he worked for almost 20 years. The train comprises modern and comfortable carriages manufactured in Ukraine during the Russian war of aggression.
Two further new services run from Ukrainian cities to Przemyśl. The Polish city is an important transport hub on the route to Central and Western Europe.
Train No. 31/32 on the Kyiv–Przemyśl route departs Kyiv at 9.30 pm and, according to the published timetable, arrives in Przemyśl at 8.19 am. The route passes through Vinnytsia, Khmelnytskyi, Ternopil and Lviv. In Przemyśl, connecting services are available towards Berlin, Prague, Kraków, Katowice and Wrocław.
Train No. 73/74 on the Dnipro–Przemyśl route departs from Dnipro at 7.00 pm and arrives in Przemyśl at 2.10 pm. It stops at Oleksandriya, Kam’yanske, P’yatychatky, Snamianka and Lviv, amongst other places. According to Ukrzaliznytsia, the arrival time allows passengers to continue their journey to Kraków, Warsaw, Prague and Munich.
Official announcement regarding the new services:
https://www.uz.gov.ua/press_center/up_to_date_topic/768984/
Connections to Munich, Berlin and Stuttgart
For Ukrainians living in Germany, Przemyśl can be a convenient transfer point for international train services. However, the most suitable route depends on the travel date and the available connections.
For the journey to Munich, you can plan a route via Przemyśl, followed by a train journey through Poland and, depending on the connection, via other European cities. There are also connections to Berlin via Polish railway hubs.
Stuttgart can be reached with changes within Germany, for example via Munich or other major railway stations. The new Ukrainian train services do not offer a direct connection to Stuttgart. The specific connecting service must therefore be checked separately.
Before purchasing tickets, it is advisable to check the timetables for all sections of the journey:
Ukrzaliznyzja:
https://uz-vezemo.uz.gov.ua/
PKP Intercity:
https://www.intercity.pl/
Deutsche Bahn:
https://www.bahn.de/
It is also important to allow sufficient time for changing trains. If tickets are purchased separately, a delay to the Ukrainian train could result in missing the connecting train.
A comfortable alternative to the bus
For many travellers, it is not just the duration of the journey that matters, but also the comfort. For older people, families with young children and passengers who find bus journeys lasting 35 to 45 hours difficult, it is often more comfortable to travel by train. On the train, you can rest, walk through the carriages and use the toilet without having to spend the entire journey in the same sitting position.
Train connections also make it possible to avoid potential waiting times at level crossings at the border. However, this does not mean that a train journey is always faster or free of delays.
Russian attacks also in western Ukraine
Ukrainian Railways is continuing to operate despite the Russian attacks. The risk of air strikes is not limited to the frontline regions: the threat can also disrupt rail services in the west of the country, particularly on routes towards the Polish border.
In September, the Ukrainian government updated the rules governing rail operations. Where there is a high risk of air strikes, passengers are not allowed to board and trains are halted. Passengers are then directed to shelters. Depending on the situation, the railways may restrict services and take additional measures to protect passengers.
Official information from the Ukrainian government:
https://www.kmu.gov.ua/en/news/uriad-zatverdyv-novi-pravyla-roboty-zaliznytsi-ta-vokzaliv-zalezhno-vid-rivnia-povitrianoi-zahrozy
Consequently, even when travelling through western Ukraine, there is no guarantee that all trains will run on time. Air raid sirens, forced stops, evacuations and changes to the route may cause delays and jeopardise planned connections.
Passengers can check the current train status and any potential delays via Ukrzaliznytsia’s official service:
https://uz-vezemo.uz.gov.ua/delayform
The railway company’s latest updates are also published on Telegram:
https://t.me/s/ukrzalinfo
Check timetables carefully
Anyone planning a journey from Ukraine to Germany should check the timetables for all trains well in advance, allow sufficient time for changes, and monitor announcements from the relevant railway companies on the day of departure.
If children or elderly people are travelling with you, it is also advisable to bring food, any necessary medication and water, and to allow sufficient time for rest during connections.
Despite the security risks and possible delays, the train remains an important and often more comfortable way to travel from Ukraine to Germany. The new international services expand the options available to people wishing to visit relatives, return home or build a life spanning both countries.
Useful links:
Ukrzaliznytsia – Ukrainian Railways
New international train services Kyiv–Przemyśl and Dnipro–Przemyśl:
https://www.uz.gov.ua/press_center/up_to_date_topic/768984/
International services and travel planning:
https://uz-vezemo.uz.gov.ua/
Checking train delays:
https://uz-vezemo.uz.gov.ua/delayform
Official Telegram channel with the latest updates:
https://t.me/s/ukrzalinfo
Polish and German railways
PKP Intercity – timetables for Polish long-distance trains:
Deutsche Bahn – timetables and train connections in Germany:
https://www.bahn.de/
Safety on Ukrainian railways
Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine – Rules for the operation of railways and stations depending on the air threat:
https://www.kmu.gov.ua/news/uriad-zatverdyv-novi-pravyla-roboty-zaliznytsi-ta-vokzaliv-zalezhno-vid-rivnia-povitrianoi-zahrozy
Ministry of Reconstruction, Infrastructure and Transport of Ukraine – Procedures for railway operations in the event of air threats:
https://mininfra.gov.ua/news/rukh-poizdiv-pid-chas-povitrianykh-zahroz-uriad-vyznachyv-alhorytm-roboty-zaliznytsi
Resolution No. 1129 of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of 15 September 2026 on railway operations at different levels of air threat:
https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1129-2026-%D0%BF
Additional train service to Germany
Ministry of Reconstruction, Infrastructure and Transport of Ukraine – new Przemyśl–Frankfurt am Main train service, in operation since 1 August 2026:
https://mininfra.gov.ua/news/dlia-pasazhyriv-z-ukrainy-stane-dostupnym-novyi-zaliznychnyi-marshrut-do-nimechchyny
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