The war in Ukraine

On the whole, the war in Ukraine and the resulting sanctions against Russia had only a slight direct impact on DB Group in the first half of 2022. It was mainly the transport services to and from Russia by DB Schenker and DB Cargo that were affected.

All topics and information about the war in Ukraine within DB Group are dealt with by a Ukraine crisis team, the Group security management center which is staffed around the clock, and the subject-specific teams.The crisis team is in constant dialog with the Federal Government’s crisis unit.

DB Group took important steps to allow refugees with Ukrainian passports or ID cards to use trains from Poland to Germany free of charge and to facilitate the onward journey from the border and within Germany to those who have fled the war in Ukraine. Further measures include exemptions without red tape for relatives of DB employees, free trips for Ukrainian refugees and housing opportunities, an aid fund for refugees and the provision of housing in cooperation with the foundation family BSW&EWH. The foundation family also has a dedicated team who help refugees to become integrated in Germany, helping out with organizational and legal issues.

DB Group has also built up a rail and road logistics network to transport relief supplies from Germany directly to Ukraine. This allowed thousands of tons of food, drinking water and sanitation items to be taken directly into the country by truck and rail.