It's been a long day. We finally reached #Kherson and start arranging our return with a regular train there. But that's a long story. Take a sit. 🧵
Once our army fought #russians out of #Kherson, I knew I have to go there and arrange our service ASAP. Boots on the ground is our way.
Days like this one start very early. And today we had a magic morning.
I got used to walking on the tracks. Otherwise you just don’t get there.
Sometimes you have to travel like this. No matter how, but you have to move on.
Damaged tracks and derailed railcars on the way. #russians bring devastation.
Meanwhile, everyone in our #IronTeam knows what to do. Like @Pertsovskyi_O, who makes things happen over the phone, from the middle of nowhere, neverminding the smash around him.
Once derailed railcars a pushed out from the track, and track is fixed, we give way to the train to move forward. And again, and again. Will pick those thrown railcars slightly later. People first.
At some point we understood that we forgot to have breakfast. So we made it right there, near the track. It happened that it was our lunch and dinner as well :) But it was delicious! Only one way it could be better - if my friend @chefjoseandres would make it for us!
We always strongly coordinate with local governors. Like @vitalij_kim, the Governor of #Mykolaiv. Governors know the territory and provide us strong support. Always.
Rusty rails. So many of them I’ve seen in retaken territories after being idle for months. So happy to bring them back to life and polish them with train wheels to shine again.
I’ll remember forever the feeling when we got to the train station. Incredible. #KhersonIsUkraine.
#russians painted over Ukrainian logos at our railcars in #Kherson. And that’s it. #denazification of railcars. What a miserable people they are.
But then we met young local Ukrainians. They where very patriotic, and expecting the regular train of course. The future of Ukraine is alive.
Many cats and dogs everywhere. Like this kitty. Looks like they wait for arrival of my friend and huge cat lover @natemook. I promised them you’ll come, Nate. Hurry up, my friend.
When #russians shell our energy infrastructure, we switch to diesel locos and #KeepRunning. We always have “plan b”. Was checking today “plan b” for diesel locos - steam locos.🧵
My 2 days at #InnoTrans2022 are over. Great days, fully packed with back-to-back meetings and events. Leaving #Berlin with a heavy heart.
Warning: long🧵ahead!
I came to #Berlin right after spending 3 days in #Kharkiv. Drastic difference between constantly shelled Kharkiv and flourishing Berlin. But for me personally its much more comfortable to be in eastern Ukraine, together with my people under fire, rather than in a peaceful Berlin.
But have to throw the track to EU for @Ukrzaliznytsia. Ukraine made its choice - we head to EU, and UZ will join European railways family. This integration will take years, but there is no other way. We start #IronEurointegration.
1. Why we urgently restore infra during the war? Because otherwise we would simply stop at day 1 of the war. And thus, neither evacuation, nor humanitarian aid delivery, nor #IronDiplomacy program, nothing would work. Just imagine that.
2. Recovery occurs during enemy missile attacks? Yes. Actually our life occurs during enemy missile attacks. Already 204 days.
Another day when we tried to restore railway connection to recently retaken Town B, but failed again. Have a sit.
The morning was perfect. 3km morning run in #Kharkiv under the rain.
The rest of my morning I spent at the station. #Kharkiv was blackouted again. I ensured that trains depart on time and the station is illuminated. I believe on a day like today, people must see that railways remain fully operational. That's about trust.