Drone Strike on Ukrainian Passenger Train Leaves Five Dead

A Russian drone strike on a Ukrainian passenger train in the northeastern Kharkiv region has killed five people and injured at least two others, according to Ukrainian prosecutors. The attack, which occurred near the village of Yazykove on Tuesday evening, targeted a train travelling from the western border town of Chop to Barvinkove in eastern Ukraine.

Details of the Attack

• Prosecutors reported that one drone directly struck a carriage, while two additional drones exploded near the train, causing extensive damage.
• The train was carrying over 200 passengers, including 18 people in the carriage that was hit.
• Images released by regional authorities showed carriages ablaze beside a snow-covered railbed, with emergency crews working to extinguish the fire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the strike as “purely an act of terrorism,” stressing that there could be “no military justification for killing civilians in a train carriage.”

Casualties and Emergency Response

• Investigators recovered fragments of five bodies at the scene.
• At least two additional passengers were injured, with rescue teams and fellow travellers assisting in evacuations.
• Ukrainian Railways CEO Oleksandr Pertsovskyi praised the swift actions of emergency responders and passengers, pledging that rail services will continue despite increasing risks.

Wider Escalation Across Ukraine

The attack on the passenger train was part of a broader wave of Russian drone and missile strikes across Ukraine:

• In the Kyiv region, a drone hit a residential building, killing two people and injuring several others.
• In Odesa, more than 50 drones struck overnight, killing three people and injuring over 30, including children.
• Additional strikes in Dnipropetrovsk and Kherson regions resulted in further casualties and infrastructure damage.

Ukrainian officials say Russia has intensified its attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure during the harsh winter months, leaving millions without reliable heating, electricity, or water.

International and Political Context

The strike comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to negotiate an end to the nearly four-year conflict. Ukrainian leaders argue that such attacks undermine peace talks and highlight the need for increased international pressure on Moscow.

President Zelensky reiterated that Russia must be held accountable, calling for unified global action to protect civilian life and prevent further escalation.