Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued a blistering condemnation of a Russian drone strike on a passenger train in the Kharkiv region, describing the attack as an “act of terrorism” with no military justification.
The strike, which occurred on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, targeted a civilian train traveling between Chop (near the western border) and Barvinkove.
The Attack: Key Details
- The Toll: As of Wednesday, January 28, the death toll has risen to 5 civilians. Zelenskyy initially confirmed 4 deaths with 4 people missing, but prosecutors later confirmed finding fragments of a fifth victim.
- The Method: Russia reportedly used three Geran-2 (Shahed-type) drones. One drone made a direct hit on a passenger carriage, while the other two struck the immediate vicinity of the tracks, sparking a significant fire.
- The Passengers: There were over 200 passengers on board at the time. The carriage that took the direct hit contained 18 people.
- Location: The strike took place near the village of Yazykove in the Barvinkove community (Izium district).
Zelenskyy’s Response
In an emotional post on X and Telegram, Zelenskyy emphasized the global nature of this “terrorist” classification:
“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 America, nor in the Arab world, nor in China, nor anywhere else.”
He further argued that such strikes are a deliberate attempt by Moscow to undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts and peace talks, which are reportedly scheduled to continue on February 1.
A Wider “Winter Campaign”
The train strike was part of a massive overnight barrage involving 165 Russian drones across Ukraine:
- Odesa: A “brutal” attack involving over 50 drones killed 3 people and injured 25, specifically targeting energy infrastructure and residential buildings.
- Energy Crisis: The strikes caused “colossal destruction” to energy facilities, leaving nearly 40% of households in Kharkiv without power in sub-zero temperatures.