Kremlin forces target passenger service heading from Shostka to Kyiv as Zelensky condemns deliberate assault on railway infrastructure near Russian border
At least 30 people have been injured after Russian forces launched a drone strike on a Ukrainian passenger train in what President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned as a “savage” terrorist attack on civilians.
Emergency services rushed to Shostka railway station in Ukraine’s Sumy region yesterday after the assault, which left a train carriage engulfed in fierce flames with doors ripped apart and windows burst open. The attack occurred around 50 kilometres from the Russian border, striking a train that was heading to the capital Kyiv.
Zelensky said the Kremlin could not have been “unaware” it was targeting civilians and urged the world that this is “terror we cannot ignore”. Both Ukrzaliznytsia railway staff and passengers were confirmed to be at the site when the drone struck.
Deliberate Civilian Target
The Ukrainian president posted harrowing footage on social media showing the train carriage consumed by flames as thick black smoke billowed into the air. Twisted metal and shattered glass littered the scene as emergency crews worked to evacuate victims.
“A savage Russian drone strike on the railway station in Shostka, Sumy region,” Zelensky wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “All emergency services are already on the scene and have begun helping people.”
The president confirmed at least 30 casualties had been reported, though the full extent of injuries was still being established. No deaths have been reported thus far, though several victims were described as seriously wounded.
Regional governor Oleh Hryhorov confirmed the train had been travelling from Shostka to Kyiv when it was struck. “The enemy deliberately struck civilian infrastructure, a passenger train running between Shostka and Kyiv. Passengers were injured,” he said.
Terror the World Must Not Ignore
In a strongly-worded statement, Zelensky said: “The Russians could not have been unaware that they were striking civilians. And this is terror the world must not ignore.”
He added: “Every day Russia takes people’s lives. And only strength can make them stop. We’ve heard resolute statements from Europe and America – and it’s high time to turn them all into reality, together with everyone who refuses to accept murder and terror as normal.”
The president’s plea for action concluded: “Lip service is not enough now. Strong action is needed.”
Infrastructure Under Siege
The attack represents the latest in an intensifying Russian campaign targeting Ukraine’s critical infrastructure as winter approaches. Railway networks have become increasingly frequent targets, with Moscow launching what officials describe as a “massive wave” of long-range drone strikes since summer.
Oleksandr Pertsovskyi, head of Ukraine’s rail system, told Reuters last week that Russia had dramatically increased production of long-range drones, with the military-industrial complex now producing approximately 5,000 Shahed drones monthly. Dozens of railway substations have been hit in recent months.
The Shostka attack came just hours after Russia struck energy infrastructure across Sumy region, leaving the city without power. Earlier this week, on 3 October, Moscow launched what Zelensky described as a massive missile and drone assault on Ukraine’s gas infrastructure.
“Just today, Russia struck our gas infrastructure with 35 missiles, including ballistic weapons. It was a combined strike, and only half of the missiles were shot down,” the president said after a meeting with Ukraine’s top military command.
Escalating Air Campaign
The violent assault forms part of an escalating air campaign that has seen Russia launch increasingly devastating strikes on civilian areas. Last week alone, swarms of drones and barrages of missiles were fired across several Ukrainian regions before turning towards Kyiv.
Ukraine’s military reported that Russia had launched 595 drones and 48 missiles in one overnight assault, with air defences shooting down 568 drones and 43 missiles. The attack lasted more than 12 hours and caused widespread damage to a cardiology clinic, factories and residential buildings.
The strikes have targeted multiple regions in the north, centre and south of Ukraine, including Zaporizhzhia where authorities said at least 16 people had been injured in recent attacks.
Pattern of Terror Attacks
Russia’s army has repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s railway infrastructure since invading in February 2022, with attacks intensifying ahead of winter in an apparent attempt to make living conditions unbearable for civilians.
Last year, sustained strikes plunged millions into darkness and left entire cities without heat during freezing months. Bloomberg reported in September that Russian President Vladimir Putin intends to continue targeting Ukraine’s energy network this winter as part of a broader strategy to break civilian morale.
The attack on Shostka follows a series of strikes on railway infrastructure, including damage to lines on the Chernihiv route on 30 September and disruptions causing train delays across multiple regions on 1 October.
International Response Urged
The targeting of civilian transport has drawn widespread international condemnation, with European leaders expressing solidarity with Ukraine. The attack occurred as European Political Community leaders met in Copenhagen to discuss the ongoing conflict.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen opened the summit saying: “For the last few months, there has been much talk about peace in Ukraine, with meetings, pre-meetings and briefings about the meetings, and meanwhile, Russia continues its brutal attacks. It must be clear to everyone now: Russia will not stop until they are forced to do so.”
She added: “We have one major task ahead of us: we have to make our common Europe so strong that war against us becomes unthinkable, and we have to do it now.”
Emergency Response
Rescuers, medics and all emergency services immediately responded to the scene, with an operational headquarters being established to coordinate the rescue effort. Ukrzaliznytsia officials are working alongside regional authorities to assess the damage and assist victims.
The attack also caused significant infrastructure damage beyond the train itself. Due to strikes on critical infrastructure in Sumy region, Shostka and parts of Shostka Raion lost power, compounding the humanitarian crisis.
The city had already been suffering from energy disruptions, with water being supplied on a schedule following previous attacks on power facilities.
Rising Civilian Toll
The Shostka attack adds to a mounting civilian toll from Russia’s aerial campaign. June saw the highest civilian casualty count in Ukraine since the start of the invasion, with 232 people killed and 1,343 injured.
Russia killed at least 21 civilians including children in the second largest strike of the war on 27-28 August, also damaging European diplomatic facilities alongside civilian infrastructure.
Ukrainian officials report that Russia launched 109 Shahed-type attack drones and decoy drones overnight in recent strikes, as well as three Iskander-M or KN-23 ballistic missiles. The sustained campaign has forced Ukraine to strengthen air defences, particularly in the northeast.
As winter approaches and attacks on infrastructure intensify, Ukrainian authorities are racing to repair damage and restore power whilst calling for increased international support to defend against what they describe as systematic terror attacks on civilians.
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