A precision strike by a reactive drone on the locomotive of a passenger train in Odesa region claimed the lives of a driver and his assistant. This was reported by the chairman of the board of AT "Ukrzaliznytsia" Oleksandr Pertsovskyi.
A precision strike by a reactive Shahed on the locomotive of a passenger train in Odesa region. Unfortunately, I must report firsthand about the most terrible thing: based on available information, this strike left no chances for our locomotive crew - the driver and assistant
Timeline of the attack
According to Pertsovskyi, the monitoring team detected a UAV threat and issued a stop command — the train was entering the station for safe passenger evacuation. "The sharp maneuver of the reactive Shahed happened in mere minutes and the locomotive crew did not have enough time to come to a complete stop and evacuate themselves," said the head of Ukrzaliznytsia.
340 passengers and the train crew were evacuated to safety with no casualties among them. Transport to Odesa was organized by buses.
Casualties outside the train
According to the head of Odesa Regional Military Administration Oleh Kiper, an 18-year-old girl was wounded as a result of the reactive UAV attack. The injured woman was delivered to hospital in critical condition, where medical personnel are providing necessary assistance.
Pertsovskyi called the strike "horrific daily terrorism and a targeted attack on civilians," emphasizing that the locomotive crew died while stopping the train to save passengers.
What this means for the railway
Attacks by reactive drones on railway infrastructure complicate the work of Ukrzaliznytsia monitoring teams: the time available for maneuvering and stopping the train is reduced to mere minutes, which increases the risk for locomotive crews even with timely threat detection. Whether this incident will lead to a review of crew evacuation protocols during attacks is a question that Ukrzaliznytsia will have to address in the near future.
