LTG Cargo Ukraine temporarily suspends operations

Published on 04-03-2022 at 11:16

LTG Cargo Ukraine, a subsidiary of the cargo transportation company LTG Cargo, is temporarily suspending operations in Ukraine due to the war. The company has already informed employees, partners and customers about the suspension of operations and contractual obligations. The decision was made on the basis of force majeure.

“We unequivocally condemn Russia’s military action against Ukraine. The operation has become impossible and all agreements have been suspended since 1 March. We will strive to resume operations as soon as it is safe for our employees”, says Saulius Stasiūnas, CEO of LTG Cargo Ukraine.

LTG Ukraine

LTG Cargo Ukraine started providing freight forwarding services around a month ago. The company was established a year ago, as part of a strategy to open up multiple offices in the region. The Lithuanian mother company had already established LTG Cargo Polska, and with the opening of a branch in Ukraine it was aiming to offer complete services in the region.

However, this year has been a year of challenges in the region. In February, Belarus barred trains from LTG carrying fertilisers and oil products, in response to the decision of Lithuania to terminate the transport contract of Belarusian fertilisers through its territory. Nevertheless, the company saw potential in the route through Poland to connect Lithuania and Ukraine. Negotiations to set up a new service on this route were ongoing when the war in Ukraine started.

Connection to Poland

Although operations to and from Ukraine are off the table, for the time being, LTG Cargo announced today that it is opening a new route from Kaunas Intermodal Terminal (KIT) to Malaszewicze, the Polish border hub and New Silk Road gateway.

This is part of its diversification strategy, the company explains, and in response to the needs of customers to transport cargo by rail to the East Poland region. The first test train from Poland has already reached the Lithuanian terminal, and regular services are now planned with one departure per week.