A Russian drone strike hit a passenger train at Shostka railway station in Ukraine’s Sumy region, injuring at least 30 people, including passengers and railway staff.
The station is located approximately 50 kilometers from the Russian border. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the incident as a “barbaric” act, saying, “The Russians could not have been unaware that they were targeting civilians. This is terrorism, which the world has no right to ignore”.
The attack damaged the train station, and a video posted by Zelensky showed a mangled train carriage engulfed in flames with twisted metal and busted windows. Regional governor Oleh Hryhorov said the attack hit a train heading from Shostka to Kyiv, and medics and rescuers were working at the scene.
According to Zelensky, both Ukrzaliznytsia staff and passengers were among the victims. The head of the local district administration, Oksana Tarasiuk, confirmed about 30 people were injured, with no immediate reports of fatalities. Moscow has stepped up its air strike campaign on Ukraine’s railway infrastructure, hitting it almost every day over the last two months.
In response to the attack, Ukraine’s army claimed to have struck a major oil refinery in Russia’s northwestern Leningrad region. Kyiv has vowed to increase its own long-range drone attacks on Russian energy sites. “Every day Russia takes people’s lives. Only strength can make them stop. Strong action is needed – lip service is not enough now,” Zelensky added.
A separate wave of overnight strikes by Russia’s army cut off power to some 50,000 households in the northern Chernigiv region. This latest attack is part of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which has been escalating in recent weeks.
The international community remains vigilant, with many calling for stronger sanctions against Russia. Zelensky’s statement emphasizes the need for united action against terrorism and highlights the devastating impact of the conflict on civilians.
