Zelensky Condemns Russian Drone Strike that Killed Five on Passenger Train
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has strongly condemned a recent Russian drone strike on a crowded passenger train, labeling the attack as an act of terrorism. This tragic incident occurred in northeastern Ukraine and resulted in the deaths of at least five individuals, with several others injured.
Details of the Attack
– A drone hit one of the train’s carriages, while two additional drones detonated nearby.
– Over 200 passengers were aboard the train at the time, which was traveling in the Kharkiv region on Tuesday.
– It was reported that 18 people were present in the affected carriage during the strike.
Zelensky emphasized that targeting civilians in such a manner has no military justification. Russia has yet to respond to this incident, although it has ramped up drone and missile attacks against Ukraine’s energy and transport infrastructure amid one of the harshest winters in years.
Additional Attacks Across Ukraine
– In the southern port city of Odesa, Russian forces unleashed dozens of drones, resulting in three fatalities and multiple injuries.
– Energy officials noted enormous damage to local facilities following these attacks, which persisted for a second consecutive night.
– In the Kyiv region, a couple lost their lives, and their four-year-old child was injured when a residential building was struck.
Millions of Ukrainians now face severe shortages of heating, electricity, and water due to continuous assaults.
Ongoing Conflict
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022, Moscow has maintained control of approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory. In a social media post following the devastating drone strike, Zelensky stated, In any country, a drone strike on a civilian train would be considered in exactly the same way—purely as terrorism.
Visuals from the Attack
Images released by Ukraine’s emergency services depict at least one carriage severely damaged and still ablaze after the attack.
– The Kharkiv regional prosecutor’s office revealed that the drone strike occurred near the village of Yazykove.
– The train was en route from the western border town of Chop to Barvinkove, passing through Kharkiv, and is frequently used by both local residents and Ukrainian soldiers.
Conclusion
These drone strikes highlight the ongoing brutality of the conflict, as Russia continues its daily aerial assaults even amid diplomatic discussions aimed at reaching a peace agreement. Despite constructive talks involving U.S. negotiators occurring last week in the United Arab Emirates, critical territorial disputes remain unresolved, prompting expectations of further meetings this weekend.