Russian drones strike two passenger trains in Odesa and Kharkiv regions
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Russian drones attacked two passenger trains in Ukraine's Odesa and Kharkiv regions on August 23, killing two women and wounding five people in the Kharkiv strike. Nearly 600 passengers, including 15 children, were evacuated unharmed from the Odesa train after a double drone strike. The attacks came as Ukraine's infrastructure minister reported 1,534 Russian strikes on the country's railway system this year.
Key Facts
- Two women were killed and five people wounded when a Russian drone struck an electric train at Lymanivka station in Kharkiv region on August 23.
- Nearly 600 passengers, including 15 children, were evacuated without casualties from a passenger train in Odesa region after two drone strikes on the same train.
- Ukraine's Infrastructure Minister Mykola Kalashnyk reported 1,534 Russian attacks on the Ukrainian railway system since the start of 2026.
- Since the full-scale invasion, Russian strikes have damaged 249 wagons and 492 locomotives, and killed 52 Ukrzaliznytsia employees.
Odesa Region Attack
Russian forces twice attacked a passenger train with drones in Odesa region on August 23, according to local authorities, Ukrzaliznytsia, and Ukraine's State Emergency Service. Odesa regional military administration head Oleh Kiper said none of the nearly 600 passengers, including 15 children, were injured. Ukrzaliznytsia stated that staff and passengers were evacuated in time thanks to a monitoring center that warned of the air threat. A drone hit the locomotive during the evacuation, and a second strike occurred while rescuers and emergency services were already on site. Nineteen buses from the State Emergency Service and local services were used to evacuate and transport passengers.
Kharkiv Region Strike
A Russian drone attacked the Lozova-Kharkiv electric train at Lymanivka station in Kharkiv region on August 23, according to Infrastructure Minister Mykola Kalashnyk. The train was stopped and passengers partially evacuated due to the drone threat, but some people remained near the train. Kharkiv regional military administration head Oleh Syniehubov reported that two women were killed and five people were wounded in the strike. Emergency services worked at the scene following the attack.
Railway Damage Toll
Minister Kalashnyk said Russia has attacked Ukraine's railway 1,534 times since the beginning of 2026. Since the full-scale invasion, Russian strikes have damaged 249 wagons and 492 locomotives. Fifty-two Ukrzaliznytsia employees have been killed and 317 wounded while on duty.
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Russian drones strike two passenger trains in Odesa and Kharkiv regions
