A drone attack conducted by Russia on a passenger train in northeastern Ukraine resulted in the death of five individuals, as confirmed by prosecutors, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy labeling the incident as terrorism. The strike, which took place near a village in the Kharkiv region, led to the discovery of body fragments belonging to the victims. The train, traveling from Chop near the western borders of Ukraine to Barvinkove, had two carriages engulfed in flames, as seen in images shared online.
Zelenskyy condemned the drone strike as an act of terrorism on innocent civilians, emphasizing the need to unite globally to protect lives and exert pressure on Russia. The president stated that the attack, carried out by three drones, resulted in the deaths of four individuals and injured several others among the over 200 passengers on board, with 18 passengers in the targeted wagon.
Furthermore, Russian drones targeted Odesa in southern Ukraine overnight, resulting in three fatalities and 25 injuries. The assault, part of Moscow’s ongoing winter offensive on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, adds pressure on Kyiv to agree to a U.S.-backed peace agreement to end the long-standing conflict. Zelenskyy criticized the attacks on Odesa, stating that each strike undermines diplomatic efforts and worsens the ongoing peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
The assaults have led to significant destruction in Odesa, with numerous residential buildings, a church, a kindergarten, and a high school sustaining damage. In Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine, Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported widespread power outages following a combined drone and missile attack, with 40% of households left without electricity. The Ukrainian air force successfully neutralized a considerable number of drones launched by Russian forces during the attacks.
Amid escalating tensions, Ukrainian and Russian officials are preparing for further talks brokered by the U.S. as they seek a resolution to the conflict. Zelenskyy called on international allies to increase pressure on Moscow to ensure lasting peace and provide security guarantees to prevent future Russian aggression. Ukraine’s stance emphasizes the importance of unified global action to deter further hostilities.