On the occasion of Railway Workers' Day, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated the employees of Ukrzaliznytsia, awarding them with the Order of «For Merit» of the III degree and conferring the honorary title of «Honored Worker of Transport of Ukraine».

The President noted that the Ukrainian railway is gradually recovering from difficult times, maintaining key routes and ensuring the transportation of people and goods. Since the beginning of the year, Ukrzaliznytsia has transported over 135 million tons of cargo, with more than 90% of passenger trains arriving on time, despite challenging circumstances.

Volodymyr Zelensky also highlighted the humanitarian role of Ukrzaliznytsia: over 3,650 medical train trips have been organized to assist the wounded and evacuate people from conflict zones. Workers from the company facilitated over 1,100 trips for foreign leaders and officials.

The President assured that the government plans to increase salaries and support programs for Ukrzaliznytsia.

«The railway serves as a vital line of defense for our country and our people. Sadly, we have lost 948 railway workers, of whom 753 gave their lives defending Ukraine», – he emphasized.

A moment of silence was observed in memory of the fallen railway workers.

Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba and representatives of Ukrzaliznytsia presented the President with a new economy class carriage and the first barrier-free carriage, equipped for people with disabilities. Currently, there are 52 carriages in the Ukrzaliznytsia fleet that are suitable for transporting passengers in wheelchairs.

Additionally, an art carriage featuring photographs that reflect the resilience of the Ukrainian people was showcased.

The President also spoke with the staff of the Food Train, which provides meals to residents of cities affected by Russian shelling.