One Killed, Several Injured as Drone Strike Hits Train Station in Ukraine
October 5, 2025
KYIV: A drone strike on a railway station in Shostka, located in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region, left one person dead and several others injured on Saturday, Ukrainian officials said.
According to authorities, two drones struck trains at the station, damaging carriages and disrupting railway services. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the incident as a “brutal attack” and shared footage showing damaged train compartments.
“The Russians could not have been unaware that they were targeting civilians. This is terrorism, which the world must not ignore,” Zelensky said in a statement posted on social media.
Regional governor Oleh Hryhorov confirmed that at least 30 people sustained injuries, with eight requiring hospital treatment.
Kyiv Condemns Attacks on Civilian Infrastructure
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Moscow of deliberately targeting passenger trains, calling it part of a “double-strike tactic” — where a second attack follows soon after the first, increasing casualties among civilians and rescuers.
Kyiv officials say Russian forces have recently intensified strikes on railway infrastructure, aiming to disrupt transportation and supply routes across frontline regions.
Railway Officials Report Locomotive Targeting
Ukraine’s state railway company CEO Oleksandr Pertsovskyi said that the drones specifically targeted locomotives, damaging several passenger carriages in the process.
“They are hunting for locomotives,” Pertsovskyi told local media, explaining that the targeted trains were a local commuter service and another headed for Kyiv.
He added that these strikes aim to make border areas, such as Shostka — roughly 50 kilometers from the Russian border — unsafe for civilians and passenger traffic.
Growing Concern Ahead of Winter
Ukrainian railway authorities warned that repeated air strikes could isolate frontline communities as winter approaches, making it harder for civilians to travel and access essential services.
Pertsovskyi expressed concern over the increasing precision of Russian drones, noting that the attacks have become harder to intercept.
“We are seeing a clear intensification of enemy attacks on railway infrastructure,” he said. “These newer drones are highly accurate, targeting specific locomotives and energy systems.”
In a previous incident in April 2022, more than 60 people lost their lives when a missile hit the Kramatorsk railway station during evacuation efforts.
Officials fear that without stronger air defenses, similar attacks on Ukraine’s transport network could continue in the coming months.
