On the evening of January 27, Russian forces struck a civilian passenger train in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region with drones, killing civilians.
The attack was reported by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
According to him, more than 200 passengers were on board the train at the time of the strike. One of the Russian drones hit a carriage carrying 18 people.
“Anywhere in the world, a drone strike on a civilian train would be regarded the same way – solely as terrorism. There is and can be no military objective in destroying civilians in a train carriage,” Zelenskyy emphasized.
Fatalities Confirmed, Search Operations Ongoing
The President said the train was attacked by three drones in total. Four people were killed in the strike, four others are currently being searched for by rescuers, and two passengers were injured.
The Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office reported that fragments of five bodies were found at the scene. Final identification will only be possible after DNA examinations.
Details of the Attack
Preliminary information indicates that Russian forces attacked the passenger train traveling from Chop to Kyiv and Barvinkove with three Geran-2 type drones. Two explosions occurred near the train, while another directly hit a carriage, causing a fire.
At least 155 passengers were on board at the time of the attack.
Zelenskyy Calls for Russia’s Accountability
The President stressed that holding Russia accountable is a key condition for protecting civilians.
“Russians have significantly increased their capacity to kill and terrorize. They are investing in the progress of terror. Our task – and what should unite all decent people around the world – is to ensure progress in protecting life,” Zelenskyy said.
Ukrainian Railways Honor Victims Nationwide
Ukrainian Railways lowered national flags at all railway stations across Ukraine on January 28 in memory of the victims of the attack.
The company stated that trains which traditionally depart with music left stations in silence after a moment of remembrance.
Overall, Russia continues to terrorize Ukraine with missile and drone attacks. In 2025, Russian forces carried out a record number of air strikes across Ukraine, using more than 60,000 guided aerial bombs, around 2,400 missiles, and over 100,000 drones of various types.
Previously, The Ukrainian Review reported that Russia launched a large-scale air attack on Ukraine on the night of January 24, killing one person and injuring dozens, including a child.
As a result of strikes on Ukraine’s energy system on January 20, power outages were recorded in Kyiv and the Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, Rivne, Kharkiv, and Sumy regions. A nationwide state of emergency in the energy sector was introduced due to the destruction of critical infrastructure.
