At least 13 people were killed and at least five more injured after a Russian drone targeted a platform at the Dnipro railway station where a train was parked, Ukrainian authorities said.
Dnipropetrovsk regional governor Oleksandr Ganzha said on Telegram that at least five more people were injured, while state railway operator Ukrainian Railways said the jet-powered drone hit the platform where train No. 866 Dnipro–Zaporizhzhia was parked. Dnipro mayor Borys Filatov described “a tragedy” on social media, writing that “a drone hit a civilian electric train. Many people have been killed. Lots are wounded.”
Ukrainian Railways chief Oleksandr Pertsovsky said an elevated threat level had been announced but “unfortunately there were still a large number of people on the platform.” A separate overnight strike in the Rivne region killed one man, Ukrainian authorities said.
Both Moscow and Kyiv have stepped up attacks using drones and other projectiles in recent months, though they are preparing to resume peace talks next month with US mediation.
Earlier, Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that more than 600 Ukrainian drones were launched toward the Russian capital overnight. “613 UAVs flew towards the Moscow region between Wednesday night and Thursday morning,” Sobyanin said. “Most were neutralised by the defence ministry's air defence forces on the distant approaches. 231 drones were destroyed on the approach to Moscow.”
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Civilian infrastructure continues to be hit in the war, with train stations and residential areas bearing the cost of intensifying drone warfare.
- The simultaneous large-scale Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow shows both sides are capable of striking deep into enemy territory, raising risks of escalation.
- Planned peace talks next month offer a potential diplomatic off-ramp, but each attack hardens positions and complicates negotiations.
Background
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Both sides have increasingly used drones for long-range strikes this year. In mid-September, Ukraine launched around 1,600 drones toward the Moscow region in a single day, the largest such attack of the war, according to Sobyanin. The Dnipro railway station attack is one of the deadliest on a civilian transport hub in recent months.
Key Perspectives
Ukrainian officials (Governor Ganzha, Mayor Filatov, Railways chief Pertsovsky): Blame Russia for a deliberate strike on a civilian electric train, reporting 13 dead and calling the attack a tragedy.
Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin: Reports that Ukrainian forces launched 613 drones toward Moscow overnight, most of which were shot down by air defence, with 231 destroyed on approach to the city.
What to Watch
- Whether either side escalates further ahead of the planned peace talks next month.
- Ukraine's ability to sustain large-scale drone salvos against Russian cities and Russia's capacity to defend against them.
- International reaction, particularly from the US mediator, to the strike on a civilian train station.
Checked
11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedAt least 13 people were killed after a Russian drone targeted a platform at Dnipro railway station, Ukrainian authorities said.RTÉ News: “At least 13 people have been killed after a Russian drone targeted a platform at the Dnipro railway station, where a train was parked, Ukrainian authorities have said.”
- SupportedFilatov described the incident as “a tragedy.”RTÉ News: “Dnipro mayor Borys Filatov also lamented "a tragedy" in the city”
- SupportedFilatov said, “a drone hit a civilian electric train. Many people have been killed. Lots are wounded.”RTÉ News: “"a drone hit a civilian electric train". "Many people have been killed. Lots are wounded," he said.”
- SupportedMoscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that more than 600 Ukrainian drones were launched toward the Russian capital overnight.RTÉ News: “Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said more than 600 Ukrainian drones were launched towards the Russian capital overnight”
- SupportedPeace talks with US mediation are planned for next month.RTÉ News: “Moscow and Kyiv are now preparing to resume peace talks, set to take place next month with US mediation.”
- SupportedPertsovsky said, “unfortunately there were still a large number of people on the platform.”RTÉ News: “"But unfortunately there were still a large number of people on the platform," he said on Facebook.”
- SupportedAt least five more people were injured, according to regional governor Oleksandr Ganzha.RTÉ News: “Dnipropetrovsk regional governor Oleksandr Ganzha said on Telegram that at least five more people were injured.”
- SupportedUkrainian Railways said a jet-powered drone hit the platform where train No. 866 Dnipro–Zaporizhzhia was parked.RTÉ News: “The state Ukrainian Railways operator said a jet-powered Russian drone had hit the Dnipro train station. "The strike hit one of the platforms, where train No. 866 Dnipro–Zaporizhzhia was at the time," it said on Telegram.”
- SupportedA separate overnight strike in the Rivne region killed one man, Ukrainian authorities said.RTÉ News: “Ukrainian authorities also reported overnight Russian strikes in multiple areas, including an attack in the Rivne region that killed one man.”
- SupportedSobyanin said, “613 UAVs flew towards the Moscow region between Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Most were neutralised by the defence ministry's air defence forces on the distant approaches. 231 drones were destroyed on the approach to Moscow.”RTÉ News: “"613 UAVs flew towards the Moscow region between Wednesday night and Thursday morning. "Most were neutralised by the defence ministry's air defence forces on the distant approaches. 231 drones were destroyed on the approach to Moscow," he added.”
- SupportedBoth countries have stepped up attacks using drones and other projectiles in recent months.RTÉ News: “Both countries in recent months stepped up their attacks using drones and other projectiles”