On Saturday, a series of Russian drone strikes targeted a railway station in Shostka, a city located in Ukraine’s Sumy region, resulting in at least one death and injuring dozens. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that 30 people were wounded in the attack, describing it as a brutal assault. Among the victims, a 71-year-old man was later found dead in one of the destroyed carriages.
The attack occurred in two waves, with the first drone strike hitting a local commuter train and the second targeting a train bound for Kyiv, as passengers were evacuated. The second strike, aimed at rescuers and evacuees, is a notorious Russian tactic known as a “double tap,” which seeks to inflict maximum harm by attacking first responders.
“The strike on Shostka was not just an attack on transportation, but on communication with Ukraine’s frontline communities,” said Oleksandr Pertsovsky, head of Ukraine’s national rail operator, Ukrzaliznytsia.
The blast also caused a power outage in Shostka and surrounding areas, affecting over 70,000 people.
In addition to the railway attack, another Russian drone strike near the Ukrainian-Russian border in the Sumy region hit a fishing boat, killing a 63-year-old man and injuring his 65-year-old companion.
Escalation of Strikes on Ukrainian Infrastructure
Moscow’s recent attacks on Ukraine’s rail and power infrastructure are part of an ongoing strategy to cripple the country’s ability to transport military supplies and disrupt daily life as the war continues into its fourth winter. Over the past two months, Russian forces have intensified airstrikes on Ukraine’s rail network, which is vital for both civilian and military movement.
Alongside the railway attacks, Moscow has also ramped up strikes on Ukraine’s power grid. The most recent assault came overnight on Friday, causing significant damage to natural gas facilities in Chernihiv, a city west of Shostka. These attacks have triggered blackouts that left around 50,000 households without electricity.
Serhii Koretskyi, CEO of Ukraine’s state-run Naftogaz, said the strikes had no military value, accusing Russia of “terrorizing civilians” as winter approaches. Meanwhile, Russia claimed the strikes targeted vital infrastructure supporting Ukraine’s war effort.
Russian Fuel Shortages and Retaliation Strikes
Ukraine has also focused its attacks on Russian oil infrastructure. On Saturday, Ukrainian forces reported a successful strike on the Kirishi oil refinery near St. Petersburg, one of Russia’s largest refineries. The strike caused explosions and fires in the industrial zone, and video footage from residents in the area showed flashes and blasts in the night sky.
In response to these ongoing attacks, Russia has been shooting down Ukrainian drones in large numbers. Moscow’s Defense Ministry reported that they intercepted 117 drones overnight and 37 more the following day.
Loss of Life Among Journalists
The violence has not spared journalists either. French photojournalist Antoni Lallican, 37, was killed on Friday while reporting from the front lines in eastern Ukraine, near Druzhkivka in Donetsk. Lallican was known for his work with prominent media outlets such as Le Monde and Der Spiegel. His death marks the 14th journalist to be killed since the conflict began.
Ongoing Conflict and International Reactions
As the war continues, the international community remains focused on the humanitarian impact of Russia’s strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure. Ukrainian officials have condemned these attacks as war crimes and call for increased international support, especially as harsh winter conditions approach.
Both sides continue to exchange heavy artillery and drone strikes, with no clear end in sight to the ongoing conflict. As the situation evolves, the toll on civilians, infrastructure, and the global energy market continues to grow, highlighting the far-reaching consequences of this war.
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