Ukrainian President Zelenskyy Condemns 'Terrorism' After Russia Hits Train

Russia targeted a passenger train in the Kharkiv region of eastern Ukraine killing five people, authorities said.

A Russian drone hit a carriage carrying nearly 200 passengers, Ukraine's Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko wrote on social media.

In Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, Russians have targeted a passenger train with shahed drones. As rescue efforts continue, at least five people are already dead.

There were more than 200 people on board at the time, including small children.

A deliberate strike on a civilian train… pic.twitter.com/dZfgfwiBs3

— Yulia Svyrydenko (@Svyrydenko_Y) January 27, 2026

The train strike occurred just hours after drones pounded the southern city of Odesa, killing three people and wounding ⁠25

Russia has intensified attacks on energy infrastructure, leaving Ukrainians without power in freezing temperatures.

In Kyiv, more than 700,000 residents are facing power outages after Moscow's attack on the capital last week, according to Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal.

Tuesday's strike on the train came days after negotiators from both countries held peace talks aimed at ending the nearly four-year-long war.

What did Zelenskyy say?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack, calling it terrorism.

"There is not and cannot be any military justification for killing civilians in a train carriage," Zelenskyy said on social media.

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

He added the strikes undermined peace efforts and urged allies to step up pressure on Moscow to end the war.

"Every such Russian strike erodes the diplomacy that is still ongoing and undermines the efforts of partners who are helping to end this war," he said.

Source: DW