The 2TE10U diesel locomotive family was manufactured in the USSR and later in Ukraine at the Lugansk and Kharkiv locomotive-building plants.

The primary focus in the development of the 2TE10U was its electrical circuits, though modifications were also made to the diesel engine. The 2TE10U was equipped with the 10D100M2 diesel engine, which differed from the 10D100 in the following ways:

• Reduction of idle speed to 270 rpm;

• Use of a governor with a starting corrector and power adjustment at the 6th controller position;

• Implementation of dual-mode injectors, eliminating the need for VP6 and VP9 valves used to deactivate part of the fuel pumps during idle operation;

• Integrated fuel-boost pumps driven by the diesel engine's crankshaft.

The 2TE10U also featured diesel compartment windows standardized with the 2TE116, a redesigned cooling system similar to the 2TE10S, and, in most units, modified control panel instrumentation. The main generator cooling fan, previously mounted under the roof on earlier models, was relocated near the front distribution gearbox—at the bottom. Its air intake louvers on the right side of the body were also lowered.

A total of 549 locomotives of the 2TE10U series were produced between 1989 and 1997, with small batches continuing until 2007.