(DDM) – At least 30 people have been injured after a Russian drone strike hit a crowded railway station in Shostka, located in Ukraine’s Sumy region, early Saturday, October 4, 2025.
According to Diaspora Digital Media (DDM), Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the incident in a statement, describing it as another act of terror targeting civilians in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
President Zelensky, in his address, painted a grim picture of the attack site, saying: “A savage Russian drone strike on the railway station in Shostka, Sumy region.
All emergency services are already on the scene and have begun helping people. All information about the injured is being established.”
Officials said the drone struck when the station was crowded with passengers and staff, resulting in multiple injuries and widespread panic.
Preliminary reports confirmed that both Ukrzaliznytsia railway staff and travelers were among the victims.
Zelensky reported that “at least 30 victims” have been recorded so far, though authorities are still assessing the full extent of the casualties and damages. Emergency response teams remain on-site, rescuing survivors and transporting the injured to nearby hospitals.
The Ukrainian president condemned the strike as a deliberate act of terror by Russian forces, accusing Moscow of knowingly targeting civilian infrastructure.
“The Russians could not have been unaware that they were striking civilians. And this is terror the world must not ignore. Every day Russia takes people’s lives. And only strength can make them stop,” Zelensky declared.
He called on Western nations to back their words with concrete action, stressing that mere condemnation is no longer enough.
“We’ve heard resolute statements from Europe and America, and it’s high time to turn them all into reality, together with everyone who refuses to accept murder and terror as normal. Lip service is not enough now. Strong action is needed,” he said.
DDM gathered that this latest attack adds to a growing list of Russian strikes on civilian targets across Ukraine, intensifying international pressure for tougher sanctions and greater military support for Kyiv.
Emergency officials say the railway station, a key transport hub in Sumy, suffered severe structural damage, with parts of the building destroyed and several trains halted mid-operation. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as passengers fled the burning platform amid heavy smoke and falling debris.
The attack comes just two days after Russia and Ukraine exchanged 185 captured soldiers each in a rare act of cooperation since the full-scale invasion began more than three years ago.
Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed the prisoner swap also included 20 civilians, but did not provide details about their identities or circumstances.
Observers believe the drone strike could further escalate tensions, undermining any fragile humanitarian progress between both countries.
As the war grinds on, President Zelensky’s administration continues to appeal for more air defense systems, drones, and intelligence-sharing from Western allies to protect critical infrastructure and civilians from recurring aerial assaults.
