Thirteen people have been killed after a Russian jet-powered drone struck a crowded platform at Dnipro railway station in northern Ukraine, Ukrainian officials said. The attack also wounded at least 10 others, according to Dnipropetrovsk regional head Oleksandr Hanzha, including an 11-year-old boy.
The Ukrainian railway operator, Ukrzaliznytsia, said a train bound for Zaporizhzhia was standing at one of the platforms when the drone hit. Moscow has repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s large rail network, but it denies deliberately targeting civilians.
Casualties in Dnipro and Chernihiv strikes
Separately, regional head Vyacheslav Chaus said two 15-year-old girls were killed in a Russian missile attack on the centre of Chernihiv city, in northern Ukraine. He added that at least 11 others, including more children, were injured.
In Dnipro, an elevated threat level had been announced before Thursday’s strike, according to Ukraine Railways head Oleksandr Pertsovsky. He said that, unfortunately, a large number of people were still on the platform.
Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov described the incident as a tragedy and said the drone hit a civilian electric train. Pictures released by Ukrainian rescue services showed a large hole in the platform and a damaged train with smashed windows nearby.
Zelensky calls for tougher sanctions on Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian forces had used a drone to attack a platform where a regular commuter train and a passenger train were standing. He called for further sanctions on Russia from the United States, European countries and the G7.
Zelensky also repeated his criticism of a deal struck earlier this month between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. That agreement eased some sanctions on Russia and allowed the United States to import Russian diesel.
Oleshky truce and attacks on Moscow
The strikes came as efforts continued to uphold a fragile local ceasefire in Oleshky, a besieged city that has been under Russian occupation since 2022. Residents there have been trapped without food, water, medicine and electricity.
Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, said on Telegram that the truce was holding into a third day. He said he had set out with the Ukrainian delegation towards Oleshky through Belarus and Russia.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has condemned Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow while the city hosts the Russia-Africa Summit, according to reports. The two-day event is attended by African leaders and government delegations from 48 countries. The mayor of Moscow said 613 Ukrainian drones were launched overnight towards the region, most of which were shot down.
Rising attacks on Ukraine’s railway network
Russia’s defence ministry has consistently denied targeting Ukrainian civilians. It says its attacks on railways aim at infrastructure used to move military personnel and equipment.
Still, the danger to passengers is real, and attacks on Ukraine’s rolling stock and stations have risen sharply. According to statistics released by Ukrzaliznytsia, almost 60% of the 521 locomotives hit since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion were struck this year. Overall attacks on railway facilities rose from 1,206 in 2025 to 1,700 so far this year.
The wider assault on infrastructure appears to have intensified in recent weeks. Two bridges were attacked in Kyiv, and a metro train was hit during one of the strikes.
