Russia attacked a train carrying hundreds of passengers: there are fatalities
13 August 10:06
A Russian jet-powered drone carried out a targeted attack on the locomotive of a passenger train in the Odesa region. According to preliminary reports, the engineer and his assistant were killed. They had continued to drive the train toward the station in an effort to save the 340 passengers. The tragedy was reported by Oleksandr Pertsovskyi, chairman of the board of Ukrzaliznytsia, and the company’s press service, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
The railway’s monitoring team detected the approaching Russian drone and issued a command to stop the train. At that moment, the train was pulling into the station, where a safe evacuation of passengers was to be organized.
However, the jet-powered drone abruptly changed course and attacked the locomotive. According to Oleksandr Pertsovskyi, only a few minutes elapsed between the drone’s maneuver and the impact.
The locomotive crew did not have time to bring the train to a complete stop and leave the cab. The railroad workers continued to control the train to bring it to a location where passengers could safely exit the cars.
“This is horrific daily terror and a targeted attack on civilians,” emphasized the head of Ukrzaliznytsia.
The engineer and his assistant rescued 340 passengers
At the time of the attack, there were 340 passengers in the cars. Thanks to the actions of the locomotive and train crews, everyone was successfully evacuated.
The passengers and employees who were in the train cars were not injured. Buses were arranged to take people to Odesa to continue their journey.
Ukrzaliznytsia emphasized that the engineer and his assistant fulfilled their duties to the very end and did everything possible to save the people in their care.
According to preliminary data, the direct impact on the locomotive left them no chance of survival. Final information is expected to be confirmed after the search and investigation are completed.
Has train service in the Odesa region changed?
It was decided to transport the evacuated passengers to Odesa by bus. This indicates that continuing the journey with the same train after the locomotive was damaged was either impossible or unsafe.
Ukrzaliznytsia has not yet reported any major changes to the schedules of other trains in the region. Passengers traveling through the Odesa region should monitor announcements on the carrier’s official channel and check the status of their trip in the app.
Railway officials typically deploy backup locomotives, reroute trains, or arrange bus transfers to minimize the impact of Russian attacks on passengers.
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Russia is systematically attacking the railway
Russian troops regularly strike train stations, stops, locomotives, the overhead contact system, and other Ukrainian railway infrastructure facilities.
Such attacks threaten more than just military or freight logistics. Ukrainian trains carry civilian passengers, children, the elderly, the wounded, evacuated citizens, and residents of frontline regions every day.
In June 2026, Russian troops had already carried out targeted strikes on locomotives in the Zaporizhzhia and Sumy regions. During one such attack, an assistant engineer was killed.
The new attack in the Odesa region is different in that it targeted the locomotive of a passenger train carrying hundreds of people.
“Ukrzaliznytsia” Will Assist the Families of the Railroad Workers
The company expressed its condolences to the families of the engineer and his assistant. Ukrzaliznytsia promised to provide the families of the deceased with all necessary assistance and support.
“We bow our heads in respect for the heroism of our colleagues—they died while stopping the train to ensure the safe evacuation and rescue of their passengers. We will stand with their loved ones and provide as much support as possible to help them get through this difficult time,” said Pertsovskyi.
Thanks to their actions, 340 passengers were able to leave the train cars and reach safety.
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