Children's railway instructor dies from injuries after Russian strike on Kharkiv

Olga Katsimon - 8 June, 15:27

The aftermath of the Russian attack on Kharkiv on 7 June 2025. Photo: Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office

Volodymyr Kovtun, an instructor at the children's railway in Kharkiv, died in hospital on the night of 7-8 June from injuries he sustained in a Russian guided bomb attack on the city the previous day.

Source: Oleksandr Pertsovskyi, CEO of Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways), on Facebook

Details: Kovtun had previously worked for Ukrzaliznytsia and remained an active member of the railway community after he retired in 2022.

During the attack, Volodymyr was near the children’s railway. Despite the efforts of doctors, he could not be saved.

Quote: "Losses that you cannot accept… Volodymyr Kovtun no longer worked on the railway, he retired in 2022, but before that, he worked here with the youngsters as a railway instructor. And on that fateful evening, he was nearby. Doctors fought to save his life, but he could not be saved – Volodymyr died of his injuries in hospital that night."

Background:

At around 17:35 on 7 June, Russia used four guided aerial bombs to attack the Shevchenkivskyi and Kyivskyi districts of Kharkiv.
A 30-year-old woman who worked for Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways) was killed. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that more than 40 people had been injured. Oleh Syniehubov, Head of the Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, had reported earlier that 19 people were known to have been injured.
Late on 7 June, Syniehubov said that a 62-year-old man had died in hospital as a result of the attack, noting that two others were in an extremely serious condition.

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