A recent drone attack carried out by Russia on a passenger train in northeastern Ukraine resulted in the death of five individuals, according to prosecutors. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the incident as an act of terrorism. The attack occurred near a village in the Kharkiv region, where fragments of five bodies were discovered at the scene.
The targeted train was en route from Chop, situated near Ukraine’s western borders with Hungary and Slovakia, to the town of Barvinkove. Images shared online depicted at least two carriages engulfed in flames alongside a snow-covered railbed.
Zelenskyy, in a message on the Telegram app, emphasized that any drone strike on a civilian train should be considered an act of terrorism with no military justification. He called for global unity in protecting human life and exerting pressure on Russia. Prosecutors reported that one drone directly struck the train, while two others targeted the vicinity.
The President mentioned that four individuals lost their lives in the attack, with over 200 passengers on board, including 18 in the affected carriage. Earlier reports by prosecutors indicated 155 passengers were aboard. Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba labeled the coordinated drone assault as a “direct act of Russian terror.”
Ukrzaliznytsia CEO Oleksandr Pertsovskyi expressed gratitude towards rescue teams and passengers who assisted during the crisis, assuring that train operations would continue despite heightened security measures. Meanwhile, overnight drone strikes also hit the southern city of Odesa, resulting in three fatalities and 25 injuries.
Zelenskyy accused Russia of launching over 50 drones in a severe attack on Odesa, undermining ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict. The Governor of Odesa, Oleh Kiper, highlighted the harm caused, including injuries to children and significant damage to various structures in the city.
In Kharkiv, another Ukrainian city, Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported a substantial power outage following a combined drone and missile strike. The Ukrainian air force disclosed intercepting and neutralizing 135 out of 165 Russian drones deployed during the assault.
As negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian officials continue, Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of international pressure on Moscow to achieve lasting peace. Ukraine seeks robust security assurances from allies, notably the U.S., to prevent future Russian aggression post any peace agreement.