At least 30 people have been injured following a Russian drone strike on a railway station in north-east Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
In a post on X, he stated that preliminary reports indicated train staff and passengers were present at the site of the strike in the city of Shostka, located in the Sumy region. Emergency services have begun aiding victims, and further details about the nature of the injuries are still being gathered.
Zelensky shared a video showing a damaged train carriage engulfed in flames, emphasizing the chaotic aftermath of the incident. The Russians could not have been unaware that they were targeting civilians. This is terrorism, which the world has no right to ignore, he expressed.
Local authorities reported that the attack included two strikes, which impacted two passenger trains. Among the injured are three children aged 8, 11, and 14. The second strike occurred while evacuations were already underway, further highlighting the callousness of the assault, which aimed to cripple communication with frontline communities.
The head of Ukrainian Railways termed the strike as 'vile,' declaring that there was 'no military purpose' to the attack, but it was aimed instead at spreading fear among the populace. Increased instances of Russian attacks on railway infrastructure have been noted.
President Zelensky has urged Western nations to act, stating: We’ve heard resolute statements from Europe and America – and it’s high time to turn them all into reality. His appeal comes amid ongoing aerial assaults characterized by hundreds of drones and missiles targeting Ukraine.
The incident has sparked greater discourse on the necessity of advanced air defense systems sought by Ukraine from its allies, as the nation continues to face a strategic and humanitarian crisis.
