Russia targets passenger train with jet-powered Shahed, killing two rail workers

The railway said an investigation into the attack was underway.

“Despite the threat, the locomotive crew kept the train moving so 340 passengers could safely leave the cars. All passengers and the train’s onboard staff were evacuated, and none were injured,” the company said.

Ukrzaliznytsia head Oleksandr Pertsovskyi called the strike deliberate, saying the drone hit the locomotive.

“We detected a drone threat, and the monitoring team relayed an order to stop. The train was entering a station so passengers could be evacuated safely. The jet-powered Shahed abruptly changed course — the crew had only minutes and did not have enough time to bring the train to a complete stop and evacuate themselves,” Pertsovskyi said.

Russia regularly attacks Ukrzaliznytsia tracks, stations, depots and trains.

On Aug. 7, the railway said Russia had attacked its network 41 times in the previous five days alone. Those attacks killed six railway workers and injured 17 people.

Eleven locomotives were damaged during the same period, the company said. Passengers were evacuated from trains 350 times because of the threat of Russian strikes.

The railway also reported a temporary suspension of ticket sales for some services and routes beginning Aug. 27.