President Zelenskyy Says Russian Drone Strike On Civilian Train With 340 Passengers Aboard Kills Driver, Assistant | Sahara Reporters
The Ukrainian leader said the attack was clearly directed at a civilian target and condemned the Russian forces for what he described as an ongoing campaign of terror against ordinary Ukrainians.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said a Russian drone strike, which deliberately targeted a civilian passenger train carrying 340 people in the Odesa region, killed the locomotive driver and his assistant.
Zelenskyy made the made this known in a post on X on Thursday, saying 340 people were aboard the train when the locomotive was struck by what he described as a jet-powered drone.
The Ukrainian leader said the attack was clearly directed at a civilian target and condemned the Russian forces for what he described as an ongoing campaign of terror against ordinary Ukrainians.
“Today in the Odesa region, the Russians once again destroyed an ordinary passenger train locomotive with a jet-powered drone,” Zelenskyy said.
“There were 340 people on the train. And whoever was operating that drone certainly could not have been unaware that the target was entirely civilian.
“As of now, unfortunately, we know that the locomotive engineer and his assistant were killed in the strike. My condolences to their families and loved ones.”
The Ukrainian president also said that Russian forces carried out attacks overnight across 11 regions of Ukraine, deploying more than 130 attack drones.
“There were also strikes overnight in 11 regions; the Russians used more than 130 attack drones,” he said.
Zelenskyy accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilians and criticised the international community for what he said was an insufficient response to attacks on Ukrainian civilians.
“Every day, the Russians strike ordinary people’s lives simply for the sake of terror. And unfortunately, far from every such attack receives a strong response from the world,” he said.
He called for increased military assistance to Ukraine, particularly air defence systems, as well as greater international pressure on Moscow to bring an end to the war.
“More air defense support and more pressure on Russia are needed if the world is serious about stopping this war in Europe,” Zelenskyy said.