Drones struck a train station in Dnipro, Ukraine, as a passenger train was preparing to depart this morning. The attack killed 14 people and wounded approximately 14 others. The Kyiv Independent reports that the attack occurred around 11:00 a.m. and involved four drones, three of which were intercepted and downed by Ukrainian air defenses. Despite air raid sirens and warnings of a heightened threat, passengers chose to remain on the platform.
The attack on Dnipro is just the latest in the escalating campaign to strike Ukraine’s railway infrastructure, including the targeting of passenger trains themselves.
The recent targeting of Ukrainian Railways facilities — facilitated by the use of jet-powered drones — has led to strict new rules in the event of air raid alerts, with passengers often evacuated in the middle of the countryside for hours until the all-clear is sounded.
The threat warnings also affect trains waiting at stations, where passengers are likewise told to exit the trains, though the accumulation of people waiting for their train to leave and the reluctance of some to go to a shelter often creates new safety risks.
Elsewhere across Ukraine, the cities of Chernihiv and Kremenchuk were also targeted by daytime attacks.
The northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv was also targeted by cruise missiles shortly after the Dnipro attack. According to the city administration, two 15-year-old girls were killed, and at least 23 others were wounded, including four children. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned the attacks on civilian infrastructure as acts of terrorism.
The continued attacks on Ukraine’s railway infrastructure have prompted new safety protocols during air raids. Passengers are now frequently evacuated from trains, sometimes in remote areas of the countryside, where they must wait for hours until the all-clear is given. However, crowded train stations continue to pose serious safety risks. Ukraine has reported that more than 500 locomotives have been destroyed or damaged in similar attacks since the war began, with more than half of those incidents occurring this year alone.
The Fellowship continues to work on the ground alongside our partners in Ukraine to respond to this ongoing crisis. Through projects aimed at strengthening security and providing assistance to those facing poverty and hardship, we remain committed to supporting vulnerable Jewish communities. We pray for the people of Ukraine, for the families mourning loved ones lost in today’s attacks, and for the swift recovery of those injured.
“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;” (Psalm 91:11).