At least 30 individuals sustained injuries in a severe incident where a Russian drone targeted a passenger train at a Ukrainian railway station, causing significant destruction and chaos. The attack was condemned as a deliberate act of terrorism.
Video footage captured the moment of the strike, revealing the aftermath of a damaged engine and carriage engulfed in flames at Shostka station. Immediate efforts were made to rescue the wounded and provide urgent medical aid.
Oleksandr Pertsovsky, the head of Ukraine’s railways, disclosed on Facebook that two trains were hit in the assault. Among the injured passengers were three children and a railway employee. Ukraine’s deputy prime minister, Oleksiy Kuleba, stated that Russia struck two passenger trains consecutively, targeting a local service first and then another headed for Kyiv, with the second drone strike occurring during an evacuation.
President Volodymyr Zelensky strongly criticized the drone strike, attributing it to Vladimir Putin’s relentless attacks on civilians and urging the global community to respond to the atrocity. Zelensky emphasized the necessity for immediate action, stating that mere words were insufficient to address the ongoing violence perpetrated by Russia.
Reports indicated that around 30 people were injured on the train traveling from Shostka to Kyiv, a region that has faced continuous bombardment for months. Regional governor Oleh Hryhorov confirmed that rescue teams and medical personnel were actively engaged at the scene.
Both Zelensky and Governor Hryhorov shared images from the site depicting a passenger carriage engulfed in flames. Additionally, the drone strikes caused a power outage in Shostka and nearby areas, impacting a significant population.
Officials reassured that no fatalities were reported immediately following the attack, condemning the strikes as a malicious attempt to disrupt communication with frontline communities. Ukraine’s leadership denounced Russia for deliberately targeting civilians, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
The use of ‘double strike’ tactics by Russia, as highlighted by Ukraine’s top diplomat Andrii Sybiha, underscored the ruthless nature of the ongoing conflict. Moscow’s intensified airstrikes on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, including the railway network and power grid, have escalated tensions and posed severe challenges to the affected regions.
Recent assaults on Ukraine’s power facilities have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, with thousands of households experiencing blackouts and disruptions in essential services. The relentless attacks by Russian drones and missiles underscore the urgent need for concerted international action to halt further escalation of hostilities and safeguard civilian lives.