At least 30 people were killed in a Russian airstrike on a Kyiv-bound passenger train at a railway station in Ukraine's northern Sumy region on Saturday, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calling the attack “savage” and an act of terrorism.
Zelenskyy posted a video on X showing a mangled train carriage engulfed in flames, with twisted metal and shattered windows. Regional governor Oleh Hryhorov told Reuters that the Russian strike had targeted a railway station, hitting the train travelling from Shostka to Kyiv.
“A savage Russian drone strike on the railway station in Shostka, Sumy region. All emergency services are already on the scene and have begun helping people. All information about the injured is being established. So far, we know of at least 30 victims. Preliminary reports indicate that both Ukrzaliznytsia staff and passengers were at the site of the strike,” Hryhorov said.
Frustrated with the stalled peace talks with Russia, Zelenskyy demanded strong action against Moscow, saying that “lip service” was not enough and calling the attack an act of terrorism.
“The Russians could not have been unaware that they were striking civilians. And this is terrorism the world must not ignore. Every day Russia takes people’s lives. 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. Lip service is not enough now. Strong action is needed,” he said.
Governor Hryhorov also posted a picture of a burning train coach, confirming that medics and rescue authorities were on site.
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The latest attack forms part of Moscow’s near-daily airstrike campaign targeting Ukraine’s railway infrastructure over the past two months.
The strike on the train came a day after Moscow launched 35 missiles and 60 drones at facilities of Ukraine’s state gas and oil company Naftogaz in the Kharkiv and Poltava regions.
Naftogaz CEO Sergii Koretskyi said the attack caused critical damage to the facilities, leaving over 8,000 consumers without power.
“As a result of this attack, a significant portion of our facilities has been damaged. Some of the destruction is critical,” he said on Facebook, adding that there was “no military rationale” for the strike.
The Russian Defence Ministry confirmed its forces carried out large-scale overnight strikes on Ukraine’s gas and energy infrastructure, also targeting military-industrial facilities.
Russia has intensified attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector as the fourth winter of war approaches, causing prolonged blackouts in several regions. In response, Kyiv’s troops have stepped up strikes on oil refineries deep within Russia in recent months.
In September alone, Ukraine attacked 19 oil facilities across Russia and Russian-occupied territories, according to the commander of Ukraine’s drone forces.
Last month, Russia paused peace negotiations with Ukraine, accusing European countries of obstructing the process. President Zelenskyy has urged the US and European allies to tighten sanctions on Russia and called for direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, though both sides remain far apart.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump, positioning himself as a peace broker, has encouraged a meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin and warned of secondary sanctions on Russia if the conflict does not end.
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