A drone attack carried out by Russian forces on a passenger train in northeastern Ukraine resulted in the deaths of five individuals, according to prosecutors. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the incident as an act of terrorism. The strike, near a village in the Kharkiv region, led to the discovery of fragments from five bodies at the scene. The train, traveling from Chop near Ukraine’s western borders to Barvinkove, had two carriages engulfed in flames beside a snow-covered railbed, as shown in online photos.
Zelenskyy, in a message on the Telegram app, emphasized that targeting a civilian train with drones is unequivocally an act of terrorism, devoid of any military justification. He called for global solidarity in protecting human life and urged pressure on Russia to cease such actions. Prosecutors stated that one drone directly hit the train, while two additional drones struck an adjacent area.
Zelenskyy reported four fatalities, with over 200 passengers aboard, including 18 in the impacted carriage, contrary to earlier reports of 155 passengers. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba labeled the coordinated drone attack as a direct act of Russian terrorism. Ukrzaliznytsia CEO Oleksandr Pertsovskyi expressed gratitude to rescue teams and passengers for their assistance, reaffirming the railway company’s commitment to maintaining operations despite the challenges posed.
Overnight drone strikes by Russian forces in Odesa resulted in three fatalities and 25 injuries, as confirmed by officials. These attacks form part of Moscow’s ongoing winter offensive targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Zelenskyy decried the assault on Odesa as “brutal,” undermining diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict. Odesa Governor Oleh Kiper highlighted the suffering of civilians, including children and a pregnant woman, with numerous buildings and facilities sustaining damage.
In Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported widespread power outages following a combined drone and missile assault. Ukrainian air defenses neutralized a significant number of drones launched by Russian troops overnight, underscoring the escalating tensions in the region. Zelenskyy called on international allies to exert pressure on Moscow to achieve a lasting peace settlement and secure Ukraine against future aggression.