In brief
A Ukrainian passenger train fell victim to a Russian drone strike, killing five people and instigating chaos among passengers. A military officer on board played a crucial role in the evacuation, urging passengers to flee just moments before a fire engulfed the carriage. The incident, condemned as terrorism by President Zelensky, highlights the ongoing dangers faced in the region as rail services strive to maintain operations amid escalating attacks.
A Ukrainian soldier has described the moment a passenger train was targeted by Russian drones, killing five people. When a carriage on the train was hit in northeastern Ukraine, passengers threw themselves on the floor in panic and the military officer shouted for them to get out immediately. Without his instruction, just moments before the carriage burst into flames, many more lives could have been lost.The officer, known by his army call-sign Omar, is part of Ukraine's 93rd brigade, traveling from Chop, near the Slovak border, to Barvinkove, the last stop before the front line in eastern Ukraine. The first of three Russian drones landed near the train, forcing it to come to a halt. Then we heard the rumble of another drone, and then an explosion, Omar recalled. The blast was so strong that parts of the carriage shattered into splinters.Realizing the imminent danger, he instructed the 291 other passengers to evacuate as quickly as possible. The carriage that suffered a direct hit was soon engulfed in flames, turning the scene into chaos. Many passengers were screaming and crying as they fled the smoldering wreck, and it became too dangerous for a large number of people to remain near the burning carriages.Omar acted quickly, returning to the train one last time to check for anyone left behind, where he unfortunately discovered a body. In an emotional scene, he found a terrified woman with her baby, who expressed her fear and urgency to retrieve her belongings. The attack, declared by President Zelensky as an act of terrorism, struck at the heart of Ukraine's vital railway system, which has been a lifeline for millions since the war began. Flags flew at half-mast across the nation in memory of the victims. While trains were eventually resumed, the tragic incident underscores the ongoing threat to civilian infrastructure in the region.
