[Video] This is the "slaughterhouse" the Russians left behind after the train station attack

A Russian jet-powered drone struck a crowded platform at the main railway station in Dnipro, central Ukraine, on Thursday morning, killing at least 14 people and injuring dozens more. The attack targeted Train No. 866, which was preparing to depart for Zaporizhzhia, a journey of approximately two hours to the south. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the incident as horrific and demanded that the United States, the European Union, and G7 nations implement new, stricter sanctions against Russia. He argued that recent easing of sanctions on Russian oligarchs and the energy sector failed to produce de-escalation, instead coinciding with continued terrorist strikes on civilians. The death toll rose throughout the day as rescue teams worked to clear the site. Dnipropetrovsk Regional Governor Oleksandr Hanzha initially reported 13 deaths and at least five injuries via Telegram. By Thursday afternoon, he updated the figures to 14 killed and 14 wounded, noting that six of the injured were in critical condition with multiple shrapnel wounds. Among the casualties was an 11-year-old boy, and one male victim required the amputation of both legs. In separate strikes elsewhere in Ukraine on the same day, two 15-year-old girls were killed in a cruise missile attack on the center of Chernihiv, where at least 25 others, including four children, were injured. In Kremenchuk, three people died and up to 28 were injured when drones hit residential buildings and a school. A day of mourning was declared for both Chernihiv and Dnipro for Friday. Ukrainian state railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia stated that despite an elevated threat level being announced prior to the strike, a large number of people remained on the platform. Chief Executive Officer Oleksandr Pertsovsky noted on Facebook that the area was under heightened alert, yet the platform remained populated when the drone impacted. The company identified the specific vehicle hit as a regular passenger train on the Dnipro-Zaporizhzhia route. Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov described the event as a tragedy, confirming that a drone had struck an electric civilian train. Images released by Ukrainian emergency services showed bodies strewn across the platform, rescuers assisting victims, and two burnt-out passenger trains with shattered windows. Ukrainian Air Force officials reported that four drones approached the area around 11:00 AM. Three were successfully intercepted before reaching their targets, but a fourth evaded defenses and struck the station. This incident is part of a broader Russian campaign targeting Ukraine’s railway infrastructure, which has been under attack since the start of the invasion in 2022. According to the railway operator, more than 5,800 train services were evacuated in September alone due to drone threats. The extensive rail network serves as a vital transport link in a country where cross-country journeys can last up to 24 hours. Recent attacks have led to strict safety protocols requiring passengers to evacuate trains in rural areas for hours during air raid alerts, creating logistical challenges and security risks for those waiting for departure. President Zelensky posted video and photographs of the destruction on social media, expressing condolences to the families of the victims. He questioned why Russia continued to escalate violence after certain sanctions were lifted, referencing a deal struck earlier in the month between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. That agreement resulted in the easing of some sanctions on Moscow and allowed the release of Russian diesel stocks to global markets. Zelensky insisted that sanctions against Moscow and its war machine must not be relaxed while the conflict persists. He specifically called on Washington, Brussels, and G7 capitals to act decisively in response to Russian aggression. International leaders responded swiftly to the attack. European Council President Antonio Costa urged international partners to intensify pressure on Russia, describing the strikes as cruel and destructive. He stated that the EU would continue to support Ukraine until a just and lasting peace is achieved. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed deep concern, labeling Russia’s refusal of peace proposals as intolerable. Macron emphasized that the situation requires far more than a localized ceasefire, citing the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the occupied city of Oleshky. He called for renewed efforts to bring Russia to the negotiating table. The strikes occurred while a fragile local ceasefire held in Oleshky, a city under Russian occupation since 2022 where residents have faced prolonged shortages of food, water, medicine, and electricity. Local officials reported that at least 20 people were killed and over 70 injured across Ukraine on Thursday. Russian military representatives did not publicly comment on the Dnipro attack. Moscow has previously denied deliberately targeting civilians, though it has repeatedly attacked Ukraine’s large railway network. Separately, the mayor of Moscow reported that more than 600 Ukrainian drones were launched toward the capital overnight, with most being shot down. These launches coincided with a Russia-Africa summit hosted in Moscow, attended by leaders from 22 African nations.