Drone strike on Dnipro station kills 13 and wounds others

Thirteen people were killed and at least 10 others wounded after a Russian jet-powered drone struck a crowded platform at Dnipro railway station in northern Ukraine, Ukrainian officials said. The wounded included an 11-year-old boy.

Ukrzaliznytsia reported that a train bound for Zaporizhzhia was at one of the platforms when the drone hit. Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov described the incident as a tragedy and said a drone hit a civilian electric train. Pictures released by Ukrainian rescue services showed a large hole in the platform, blurred-out bodies, and a blast-damaged train with smashed windows.

Dnipro regional head Oleksandr Hanzha confirmed the death toll and the number of wounded. Ukraine Railways head Oleksandr Pertsovsky said an elevated threat level had been announced ahead of the strike but that many people remained on the platform.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Russians used a drone to attack a platform where a regular commuter train and a regular passenger train were standing and called for further US, European and G7 sanctions on Russia following the incident.

Russia’s defence ministry denied targeting Ukrainian civilians and stated its attacks on railways target infrastructure used to transport military personnel and equipment. Ukrzaliznytsia provided statistics to AFP showing that of 521 locomotives hit since the start of the full-scale invasion, almost 60% were hit this year, and overall attacks on railway facilities rose from 1,206 in 2025 to 1,700 so far this year.

Elsewhere, two 15-year-old girls were killed in a Russian missile attack on the centre of Chernihiv, with at least 11 others injured, regional head Vyacheslav Chaus said. The recent period has seen what appears to be a wider assault on Ukraine’s infrastructure, including attacks on bridges in Kyiv and a metro train hit during one of the strikes.

Liberal News Analysis: What Does This Development Mean?

The strike on Dnipro railway station highlights the acute danger to civilian passengers when transport infrastructure is targeted. The attack, occurring despite an elevated threat level, underscores challenges in protecting crowded transit hubs. Statements from Ukrainian officials and the scale of reported damage and casualties intensify calls for additional international sanctions and scrutiny of attacks on railway networks.

Quick Glance: What You Need to Know

• Thirteen people were killed when a Russian jet-powered drone hit a crowded platform at Dnipro railway station.
• At least 10 others were wounded, including an 11-year-old boy.
• A train bound for Zaporizhzhia was at one of the platforms when the drone struck.
• Ukrainian officials and rescue services reported extensive platform and train damage and blurred-out bodies in released images.
• President Volodymyr Zelensky called for further US, European and G7 sanctions on Russia after the attack.
• Russia’s defence ministry denied targeting civilians and said railway strikes aim at military transport infrastructure.
• Ukrzaliznytsia supplied statistics showing a rise in attacks on locomotives and railway facilities this year.
• Two 15-year-old girls were killed in a separate missile attack in Chernihiv with at least 11 others injured.