Russian drones targeted a bus carrying passengers and a train in southern Ukraine, resulting in the deaths of five individuals, as reported by Ukrainian authorities on Wednesday. The strikes were part of Moscow’s ongoing campaign to disrupt transportation links and infrastructure within the region.
A photograph shared on Telegram by a local governor depicted a white vehicle with shattered windows and what appeared to be blood stains on its side, although the authenticity of the image has not been independently verified by Reuters.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks as senseless acts of violence, emphasizing the need for the U.S. and Europe to escalate sanctions against Russia in response.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has seen a rise in targeted attacks on logistical and economic targets in recent months, aimed at impeding each other’s military operations and undermining morale.
With Ukraine’s airspace inaccessible since the onset of Russia’s invasion in 2022, buses and trains have become crucial modes of transportation for civilians and businesses.
In the assault on a passenger bus near Nikopol, four men and a woman lost their lives early on Wednesday, while seven others sustained injuries, according to local police and the governor of Dnipropetrovsk region, who shared the photo of the aftermath.
There has been no immediate reaction from Russia regarding the incidents. Both countries have denied intentionally targeting civilians in the conflict, which was sparked by Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
In a separate incident, a passenger train in Ukraine’s Mykolaiv region was also attacked by a Russian drone, confirmed the acting regional governor. Fortunately, all 168 passengers and crew were safely evacuated without any casualties, despite subsequent strikes on the train.
These assaults follow a pattern of similar attacks, including one on a train near the Ukrainian-Polish border shortly after European dignitaries had traveled the same route. Russia has escalated its targeting of Ukrainian railways, damaging numerous passenger carriages, locomotives, and stations throughout the year.
The state rail operator disclosed that Russia has targeted a total of 1,700 railway facilities since the beginning of the year, a significant increase from previous years. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha denounced the attacks as a deliberate effort to disrupt civilian life and harm the country’s economy.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin framed the upcoming parliamentary election as a gauge of public support for the war in Ukraine, urging Russian citizens to participate. The election, scheduled to commence on Friday, is the first since the conflict began and coincides with mounting concerns over the war’s impact on the economy. Putin emphasized the importance of voting as a demonstration of national unity and resolve in the face of external pressures, underscoring the ruling United Russia party’s anticipated dominance in the political landscape.