Two unmanned aerial vehicles from Russia targeted trains at a railway station in Ukraine’s Sumy region, resulting in one fatality and approximately 30 injuries, as per officials’ reports on Saturday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the incident as a ruthless drone strike on the Shostka station, sharing footage showing damaged and burning passenger carriages. Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Russia of purposely launching two attacks on passenger trains, labeling it as a severe tactic known as the ‘double tap.’
According to Sumy region Governor Oleh Hryhorov, eight individuals were hospitalized following the strikes. Zelenskyy criticized the Russian actions, emphasizing that the targeting of civilians amounts to terrorism that the international community should not overlook. Over the past two months, Moscow has intensified its airstrikes on Ukraine’s railway infrastructure, with a particular focus on passenger trains.
In a video interview, Oleksandr Pertsovskyi, the CEO of Ukraine’s state rail company, revealed that the drones had specifically targeted locomotives, causing damage to the attached carriages. He noted that Russia had increasingly employed this method, with the affected trains including a local commuter service and another heading towards Kyiv. Pertsovskyi expressed concern that the attacks aimed to instill fear in areas like Shostka, making them unsafe for passenger traffic and daily activities.
Despite Russia’s denial of targeting civilians, its military actions have resulted in significant civilian casualties in Ukraine. The ongoing airstrikes on railway facilities have raised concerns about the safety of public transport and infrastructure in the region.