At least 30 individuals sustained injuries in a severe attack by a Russian drone on a passenger train at a Ukrainian railway station, described as a deliberate act of terrorism. Video footage captured the moment of the strike, revealing the devastation of a twisted engine and carriage engulfed in flames at Shostka station. Immediate efforts were made to rescue the injured and provide medical aid.
Oleksandr Pertsovsky, the head of Ukraine’s railways, disclosed in a Facebook post that two trains were targeted, resulting in injuries to three children and a staff member among the passengers. Ukraine’s deputy prime minister and reconstruction minister, Oleksiy Kuleba, stated that Russia launched strikes on two passenger trains consecutively, first hitting a local service and then targeting another heading to Kyiv. The second drone struck during an evacuation operation.
The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, condemned the drone attack on Shostka railway station as another senseless assault on civilians by Vladimir Putin. Zelensky called upon the global community to respond to the atrocity, emphasizing the need for decisive action. Reports confirmed approximately 30 casualties on the train traveling from Shostka to Kyiv, a region near the Russia border enduring continuous bombardment in recent months.
Both Zelensky and regional Governor Oleh Hryhorov shared images from the scene displaying a passenger carriage ablaze. The drone strikes also disrupted the power supply in Shostka, impacting around 70,000 residents and nearby areas. Despite no immediate reports of fatalities, officials denounced the attacks as a malicious effort to impede communication with frontline communities.
Ukraine’s top diplomat, Andrii Sybiha, criticized the Russian tactics, highlighting the deliberate targeting of rescuers and evacuees in what he referred to as a ‘double strike.’ Moscow intensified airstrikes on Ukraine’s vital railway network, aiming to disrupt military transport, while also increasing attacks on the power grid to manipulate the approaching winter conditions.
Recent assaults on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure by Russian drones and missiles intensified, causing significant damage near the city of Chernihiv. Ukrainian authorities reported a substantial attack on natural gas facilities operated by Naftogaz Group, as part of Russia’s strategy to weaken the power grid and undermine public support for the ongoing conflict.