Zelensky Denounces Russian Drone Attack that killed Five Aboard Passenger Train

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has denounced a Russian drone attack on a crowded passenger train in Kharkiv’s north-eastern region, calling it an act of “terrorism.” Local authorities reported that at least five people were killed and several others injured in the strike.

Officials said more than 200 passengers were on the train when one carriage was hit by a drone, while two other drones exploded nearby on Tuesday. Zelensky noted that 18 people were inside the targeted carriage and stressed there was no “military justification” for attacking civilians.

Russia has not commented on the incident but has escalated drone and missile attacks on Ukraine’s energy and transport infrastructure amid one of the harshest winters in years. In the southern port city of Odesa, dozens of drones struck overnight, killing three people and injuring many more. Energy facilities suffered significant damage, and city officials said attacks continued into Wednesday.

In the Kyiv region, a couple were killed and their four-year-old child injured when a residential building near the capital was hit, according to police. Millions of Ukrainians have been left without heating, electricity, and water due to ongoing Russian strikes.

Since launching a full-scale invasion in February 2022, Moscow now controls roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory. Zelensky, in a social media post on Tuesday, said: “In any country, a drone strike on a civilian train would be considered in exactly the same way—purely as terrorism.”

Images and video released by Ukraine’s emergency services show at least one heavily damaged carriage still burning after the attack. Kharkiv’s regional prosecutor’s office said the train was struck near Yazykove village. The train had been traveling from the western border town of Chop to Barvinkove via Kharkiv, a route used by local residents and soldiers, along with their family members.

In Odesa, authorities reported that Russia launched more than 50 drones overnight. After several floors of a residential building collapsed, three bodies were recovered, and multiple nearby buildings sustained damage.

Russian aerial assaults continue despite the latest round of Ukraine-Russia peace talks, held last week in the United Arab Emirates with US mediators. While the discussions were described as constructive, major territorial disputes remain unresolved, and further meetings are planned for the weekend.