Russian Attacks Claim 12 Lives in Ukraine, Train Targeted by Drone

Kyiv, Ukraine:

In a series of nighttime assaults, Russian forces resulted in the deaths of at least 12 individuals across Ukraine, impacting a passenger train, housing areas, and vital energy facilities, as reported by Ukrainian officials on Tuesday.

In the Kharkiv region, a Russian drone targeted a train with approximately 200 passengers, leading to the death of at least five when it struck one of the carriages. Prosecutors released images depicting the carriage engulfed in flames, which emergency responders later confirmed were extinguished.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced the offensive, asserting there was no justification for attacking civilians. He indicated that such actions were detrimental to peace negotiations and urged allies to heighten pressure on Moscow.

Further south in Odesa, over 50 Russian drones led to three fatalities and left more than 30 injured, including a pregnant woman and two young girls. Authorities reported damage to several residential buildings as rescue teams sifted through debris in search of survivors.

In Sloviansk, a couple aged 45 and 48 lost their lives in another strike, while their 20-year-old son managed to survive. Additional casualties were reported in the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions due to drone and shelling assaults.

Russian bombings have caused significant harm to Ukraine’s energy grid. DTEK, a private energy provider, reported serious damage to one of its facilities in Odesa. Meanwhile, Naftogaz, the state gas company, noted another facility was ablaze, marking this as the fifth attack on energy infrastructure this month, leaving millions of Ukrainians vulnerable to power and heating outages amid frigid temperatures.

Ukraine’s air force reported that 165 attack drones were launched overnight, with an infrastructure site in the Lviv region also being struck.

Despite ongoing peace negotiations in the United Arab Emirates, Zelensky commented that these assaults reflect Russia’s effort to sabotage diplomatic efforts. The next round of discussions is slated for February 1.

On a related note, Russia announced capturing two villages in the Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv regions, continuing its gradual offensive on the frontline.