Employing security officers is a standard practice for companies that organize passenger transportation. The main task of the officers is not to detect those disloyal to the authorities, as the propagandists claim, but to control security at railway facilities, primarily with the aim of preventing citizens from transporting explosive and other prohibited substances and weapons without proper permission.
Some propagandist channels in Telegram are spreading misinformation that secret agents will soon begin their work at railway stations and trains in Ukraine, allegedly looking for passengers opposed to the authorities and the Zelenskyi regime among travelers.
On October 9, the Ukrainian railway company Ukrzaliznytsia’s press service reported that the first railway safety officers had already started working at the stations and in the company’s trains. Currently, departmental paramilitary security officers are working on one of the popular western routes, which requires more attention to ensure the safety of passengers. The press service notes that the main task of the officers is to control the situation in passenger transportation and quickly respond in case of need.
The department draws attention to the fact that the work of security officers is a standard practice for companies that organize passenger transportation.
“This is a common model of work of security units on aviation routes. Our officers, who are incognito on trains and at stations, are tasked with assessing risks and promptly responding to threats that may arise during passenger travel. Moreover, these are all specially trained specialists,” emphasized Yevhen Lyashchenko, chairman of the Ukrzaliznytsia board.
Bohdan Dolintse, an expert on transport and air transportation, confirmed this information in a comment for Channel 5. The expert noted that such a system is a common practice in air transportation in the USA, where specially trained persons, ‘sky marshals’ or ‘air marshals’, anonymously ensure safety on planes. A similar practice also exists in Canada, India, Israel, Great Britain, Singapore and other countries around the world.
The innovations are primarily related to military actions on Ukraine’s territory. The press service of Ukrzaliznytsia notes that due to Russia’s full-scale invasion, the company has improved security control at railway facilities, in particular at stations, “in order to prevent citizens from transporting explosive and other substances and weapons without proper permission.” Earlier, as part of the implementation of the Rail Safety project, the company introduced paramilitary security in nine passenger trains.
Earlier, StopFake refuted the disinformation that citizens are leaving Ukraine because of Zelensky’s refusal to make peace with Russia.
