March 01, 2022 LVIV, UKRAINE: The Director of Ukraine’s passenger trains, Alexander Perzovsky, discussed the work that is done behind the scenes to secure a working infrastructure in order to assist the refugees fleeing Kyiv, Kharkiv and other cities heavily hit by Russian attacks.
Originally from Ukraine, Alexander was studying abroad, when the war started in 2014/2015. He was called back to Ukraine for newly offered government jobs.
Railway workers say some haven’t left the station in days and each have only been able to get roughly 5 hours of sleep in that time. Volunteers are also helping with the large overflow of refugees, providing food, water, directions, stays and assisting at the boarding stations.
“Typically I’d say this station services like five to 6,000 people. Now like, 40,000 50,000 of people fleeing from the war” -Director of Ukraine’s passenger trains, Alexander Perzovsky
Due to the large amount of people, some are waiting for days, women with children, pregnant women and elderly are prioritized which leaves some families separate from the male figures in their lives.
“Typically I’d say this station services like five to 6,000 people. Now like, 40,000 50,000 of people fleeing from the war, each day arriving here.” Perzovsky went on to say.
“It’s not likely it’s going to grow automatically, so we are expanding to increase the capacity. I’m very very grateful there’s a lot of volunteers working along side us keeping this place in order. Providing food, supplies, and things like that. But still people wait here for few days to get to board the train.”
Alexander said that MAU (Ukraine Airlines) had just offered their assistance, having their flight attendants and other staffers come to assist with the railway needs.
Perzovsky’s phone never stopped ringing the few hours we stayed filming. He navigates multiple issues at once, at one point having to decide how to continue to transport people from Kharkiv and Kyiv safely as they say there may not be many days left of that being possible.
He discussed options and ideas of how to get evacuees out, explaining how recent gunfights and missiles have endangered the situation. He said that one missile landed on the train tracks in Kharkiv, but it did not explode.
Alexander spoke of an unfortunate number of railway workers who have been hurt in war battles as they continued to maintain the infrastructure, and that some have passed away.
“We will never give up, but the world can help us, save lives and infrastructure” – Alexander Kamyshin
FNTV also had the chance to speak directly with CEO of Ukraine Railways, Alexander Kamyshin who had a message to share.
“We will never give up, but the world can help us, save lives and infrastructure” When asked exactly how the world can help the people of Ukraine, after a short pause Kamyshin responded with simply “They know”
Video by Oliya Scootercaster (FreedomNews.TV)
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