The structure of eutectoid carbon steel with the initially pearlitic structure was studied by transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction after laser heating. It is shown that, under ultrarapid laser heating, the alpha-gamma phase transformation can proceed by a shear-type diffusionless mechanism that results in the deformation of cementite platelets. The crystallographic characteristics of shear planes involved in the alpha-gamma transformation are determined. Austenite formation was found to occur through the diffusionless shear mechanism, with orientation relationships close to those of Kurdjumov-Sachs.