Grain exports: We're going to Europe, boss of Ukrainian Railways says

The boss of the state-owned Ukrainian Railways says he wants to see more cross-border connections to the country's western neighbours.

"We have made our decision: We are going to Europe," Oleksandr Kamyshin told dpa in Berlin.

"Ultimately, we need real integration into the European infrastructure for this.''

Noting that millions of Ukrainians had fled Russia's invasion, he said high demand would remain throughout the course of the war and well beyond.

"People will want to stay mobile between countries,'' Kamyshin said.

Recently, he said, connections had been expanded to Moldova, Romania and Poland.

"We have built 50 kilometres of new track in spite of the war. And we are building more, by the end of the year it will be twice as much,'' he said.

He said it was also necessary to strengthen freight corridors through European ports, explaining that Ukrainian Railways exports 1.5 million to 2 million tonnes of grain a month.

"We could do five million to seven million tonnes a month.

"We are under attack, we need weapons, financial aid and all the rest.

"But at the end of the day, we are an entrepreneurial nation,'' he said while calling on European rail operators to do more business with Ukraine.

Ukraine's rail lines and stations were perennial targets of attacks by Russian forces.

The company had lost 244 employees, according to Kamyshin.

The CEO said he often travelled near the front lines or in recaptured areas, where he also accompanied demining and repair workers.

"It will be hard for me to send employees where I wouldn't go myself.''