At least 30 people have been injured following a Russian drone strike on a railway station in north-east Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said. In a post on X, he noted that preliminary reports indicated train staff and passengers were present during the strike in the city of Shostka in the Sumy region. Emergency services are on the scene assisting those affected, and details regarding the injured are still being confirmed. Zelensky also shared a video showing a damaged train carriage engulfed in flames. He remarked, The Russians could not have been unaware that they were targeting civilians. This is terrorism which the world has no right to ignore, adding that such daily actions result in loss of life and must be met with collective strength to stop it.

According to regional governor Oleh Hryhorov and reports from the Ukrainian Railways body, two drone strikes targeted passenger trains, injuring three children aged 8, 11, and 14 amid ongoing evacuations from the area. Hryhorov described the attack as 'vile' and aimed at disrupting communication with frontline communities, as Shostka is situated about 50km from the Russian border. The head of Ukrainian Railways criticized the strikes, emphasizing that they lacked any military justification and were intended to instill panic among people.

Concerns have been raised about a recent pattern of intensified Russian attacks on Ukrainian railway infrastructure. Additionally, Zelensky has urged Western nations to convert their supportive statements into actions to strengthen Ukraine's defenses against such attacks.

The situation in Ukraine continues to evolve, with a recent history of significant aerial assaults, raising urgent calls for advanced air defense systems. The international community faces pressure to respond effectively to these escalating threats.