Russian Shahed drone attacks passenger train in Odesa Oblast, killing driver and assistant

- 13 August, 09:17
Stock photo: Getty Images

A Russian jet-powered Shahed drone has attacked a passenger train in Odesa Oblast, killing the train driver and assistant driver.

Source: Oleksandr Pertsovskyi, Chairman of the Board of the state-run railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways); Ukrzaliznytsia press service

Quote from Pertsovskyi: "A jet-powered Shahed hit the locomotive of a passenger train in Odesa Oblast. Sadly, I have to report the worst news first-hand: early reports indicate that this strike left our locomotive crew – the driver and assistant driver – with no chance of survival."

Details: Pertsovskyi said a UAV threat had been detected shortly beforehand and the monitoring team issued an order to stop the train. The train was pulling into a station to allow passengers to be evacuated safely.

"The sudden manoeuvre of a jet-powered Shahed happened in a matter of minutes, giving the locomotive crew too little time to bring the train to a complete stop and evacuate the passengers and crew," he said.

The 340 passengers and train crew members, none of whom were injured, were evacuated to a safe location. Buses are currently being arranged to transport the passengers to Odesa.

Ukrzaliznytsia added that the circumstances of the incident are still being investigated.

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