Russia struck a passenger train in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region using attack drones, killing at least four people and injuring two, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, condemning the incident as a deliberate act of terrorism and calling for international accountability.
In a statement, Zelenskyy said over 200 people were aboard the train, with 18 in the carriage hit by one of the drones. Rescue teams were still searching for four missing individuals. “In any country, a drone strike on a civilian train would be regarded in the same way – purely as an act of terrorism,” Zelenskyy said. “There is, and can be, no military justification for killing civilians in a train carriage. My condolences to all the families and loved ones.”
Today, Russia struck a passenger train in the Kharkiv region with attack drones. In any country, a drone strike on a civilian train would be regarded in the same way – purely as an act of terrorism. There would be no doubt about the classification, neither in Europe, nor in… pic.twitter.com/J7UqQV70QG
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 27, 2026
Zelenskyy emphasized that Russia must be held responsible not only for the deaths but for the broader capacity to carry out such attacks. “The Russians have significantly increased their capacity to kill, their capacity to terrorize. They are investing in the progress of terror,” he said, calling on the international community to pressure Moscow, punish Russia for its actions, and support Ukraine in protecting civilian life. “Our task – and this should unite all decent people around the world – is to ensure progress in the protection of life,” Zelenskyy said.
The attack came amid a wave of Russian drone and missile strikes earlier this month that hit energy infrastructure and residential areas across multiple Ukrainian regions, exacerbating electricity and heating shortages during winter. Zelenskyy previously noted that Ukraine “has never been and will never be a roadblock to peace” but stressed that ongoing Russian attacks undermine diplomacy and erode trust in negotiations.
The Ukrainian delegation is already in the United States. Their main task is to present the full and accurate picture of what Russian strikes are causing.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 17, 2026
Among the consequences of this terror is the discrediting of the diplomatic process: people lose faith in diplomacy, and… pic.twitter.com/FvMtNxAFyJ
Zelenskyy also highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses, improve emergency response and maintain essential services. He said a Ukrainian delegation had arrived in the United States to provide officials with detailed assessments of Russian strikes, while new sanctions against individuals supporting Russia’s invasion had been implemented to increase international pressure.
Tuesdays drone strike on the train represents the latest escalation in Russia’s attacks on civilians, prompting Zelenskyy to appeal for coordinated global action to hold Russia accountable and prevent further civilian casualties.
