Table of Contents
A Russian drone attack on a passenger train stopped at a station in Dnipro, eastern Ukraine, on Thursday morning killed 14 people, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed. According to Ukrainian state railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia, a jet-powered drone struck a crowded platform where people were waiting to board a regional train heading south to Zaporizhzhia.
Reactions to the Attack
The company stated that individuals were on the platform despite an increased threat warning. Ukraine’s air force reported that it intercepted three drones during the daytime assault, but a fourth managed to evade defenses and hit the station. Images shared on social media showed bodies on the station platform alongside kneeling police officers.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Sergiy Koretskyi stated that Russia is deliberately targeting civilians on trains, at stations, and in residential buildings, adding that the terror has no justification. Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov also confirmed the incident, describing it as a tragedy.
Zelenskyy Criticizes Western Policy
Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the horrific attack and called for international action from Kyiv’s allies, stating that sanctions against Moscow must not be eased while the war continues. He questioned how many terrorist strikes Russia has launched since sanctions were lifted on certain Russian oligarchs and the energy sector. His remark referenced a recent agreement between US President Donald Trump and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that eased some sanctions and released Russian diesel stocks onto global markets.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed deep concern over Russia continuing to choose escalation by targeting civilians. He stated that the international community must aim for more than a localized ceasefire, such as the one negotiated for Oleshky, and described Moscow’s rejection of proposals as intolerable. Macron emphasized that efforts must redouble to achieve a just peace and bring Russia to negotiations.
Zelenskyy added that the strikes are deliberate and cruel, occurring while the humanitarian operation in Oleshky unfolds. He noted that Russia’s signals show a desire for the war to continue, requiring strong global pressure and de-escalation steps.
Impact on Ukraine’s Railway Network
Russia has targeted Ukrainian trains and stations since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, destroying hundreds of locomotives and killing workers and passengers. With commercial air travel suspended, Ukraine’s railway network remains essential for transporting people and goods, as well as cross-border travel.
Ukrzaliznytsia told the AFP news agency that frontline regions in the south and east, including Odesa, Dnipro, and Zaporizhzhia, frequently conduct passenger evacuations due to rising drone attacks. In September alone, more than 5,800 trains required evacuation, halting mid-journey so passengers could leave carriages and wait at a safe distance from potential strikes.
Further Casualties Across Ukraine
Authorities reported at least five additional fatalities from other Russian attacks across Ukraine on Thursday. A strike in the city center of Chernigiv, north of Kyiv, killed two 15-year-old girls and wounded over a dozen people, according to the head of the city’s military administration. In Kremenchuk, a drone hit a multi-storey residential building, killing two people and injuring several others, including a six-year-old child.
