Russian Drone Attack on Ukrainian Train Station Kills at Least 13, Officials Say
BBC News reports on a devastating incident in Ukraine, where a Russian jet-powered drone struck a crowded platform at the Dnipro railway station, resulting in at least 13 fatalities and 10 injuries, including an 11-year-old boy.
According to Oleksandr Hanzha, the head of Dnipropetrovsk region, the attack occurred when a train bound for Zaporizhzhia was at the platform. Moscow has previously targeted Ukraine's railway network, but they deny intentionally targeting civilians.
In a separate incident, two 15-year-old girls were killed in a Russian missile strike on Chernihiv city, as reported by its regional head, Vyacheslav Chaus. At least 11 others, including more children, were injured.
Dnipro mayor Borys Filatov described the incident as a tragedy, emphasizing that the strike hit a civilian electric train. Images from the Ukrainian rescue services depict a platform with a large hole, strewn with blurred bodies, near a damaged train with shattered windows.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack, calling for enhanced sanctions on Russia. He highlighted the contradiction of a recent deal between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, which eased some sanctions on Russia, allowing US imports of Russian diesel.
These strikes occurred amidst a fragile ceasefire in Oleshky, a besieged city under Russian occupation since 2022, where residents face severe shortages of food, water, medicine, and electricity.
While Moscow condemns Ukrainian drone attacks on its territory during the Russia-Africa Summit, Ukraine's human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, reported that the truce in Oleshky was holding for a third day.
The Russian defense ministry maintains that their attacks are directed at military infrastructure, but the dangers to passengers are undeniable. The number of locomotives hit in Ukraine has risen sharply this year, with almost 60% of the total attacks occurring in 2023.