Ukraine: 14 morts dans une frappe de drone russe sur une gare surpeuplée de Dnipro

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 wounding dozens more. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack as horrific and demanded that international allies maintain strict economic pressure on Moscow. The strike occurred despite an elevated threat warning issued by authorities, hitting a platform where passengers were waiting to board regional trains heading toward Zaporizhzhia. Ukrainian state railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia stated that the drone impacted a platform occupied by commuters awaiting a service to the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, a journey typically lasting two hours. Oleksandr Pertsovsky, the executive director of the railway company, acknowledged via social media that although heightened security protocols were active, a large number of people remained on the platform when the impact occurred. The Ukrainian Air Force reported intercepting three drones during the daytime assault, but a fourth managed to evade defenses and strike the station. Images released by emergency services depicted bodies scattered across the debris-strewn platform, alongside two burnt-out passenger trains with shattered windows. Rescuers were seen assisting victims, while police officers knelt beside the deceased. Dnipropetrovsk regional governor Oleksandr Hanzha confirmed the death toll rose to 14 by Thursday afternoon, with another 14 individuals injured. He noted that six of the wounded were in critical condition suffering from multiple shrapnel injuries. Specific casualties included an 11-year-old boy and a man who lost both legs. Hospital officials indicated that many patients arrived with severe shrapnel wounds, and four individuals underwent emergency surgery. Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov labeled the incident a tragedy, specifying that the drone hit an electric civilian train. A day of mourning was subsequently declared for both Dnipro and the nearby city of Chernihiv for Friday. The attack coincided with a fragile local ceasefire in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, where fighting had paused to allow for the evacuation of vulnerable residents. While the truce held into its third day, violence persisted elsewhere. Across Ukraine, at least 19 people were killed in coordinated strikes on Thursday. In the northern city of Chernihiv, two 15-year-old girls died in a missile attack on the city center, injuring at least 25 others, including four children. Regional head Vyacheslav Chaus confirmed these figures. Additionally, three people were killed and 28 injured in the central city of Kremenchuk, located in Poltava region, after a drone strike damaged residential buildings and a school. President Zelenskyy utilized the attack to criticize recent diplomatic developments involving the United States and Russia. He questioned why sanctions had been relaxed regarding Russian oligarchs and the energy sector, noting that such measures did not lead to de-escalation. Zelenskyy referenced a deal struck earlier in the month between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which facilitated the easing of certain sanctions and allowed for the release of Russian diesel stocks to global markets. The Ukrainian leader argued that sanctions against Moscow’s war machine must remain intact for the duration of the conflict. He called upon the United States, the European Union, and G7 nations to implement new, stricter punitive measures. International leaders responded with condemnation. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed deep concern over Russia’s choice to target civilians, describing Moscow’s rejection of broader peace proposals as intolerable. Macron urged for efforts exceeding a localized ceasefire to achieve a just and lasting peace. Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, described the strikes as cruel and devastating, stating that the EU would continue to increase pressure on Russia and support Ukraine until peace is secured. He appealed to international partners to adopt similar stances. Prime Minister Sergiy Koretskyi asserted that Russia is deliberately hunting civilians on trains, at stations, and in residential areas. He stated there is no justification for such terror. The pattern of attacks on Ukraine’s rail network has intensified since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, resulting in the destruction of hundreds of locomotives and the deaths of numerous workers and passengers. With commercial air travel suspended, the railway system serves as a vital artery for movement within Ukraine and for entry and exit from the country. Consequently, large-scale passenger evacuations have become common, particularly in frontline regions such as Odesa, Dnipro, and Zaporizhzhia. In September alone, more than 5,800 trains were forced to evacuate due to strike threats. When a potential attack is detected, trains halt, and passengers are ordered to disembark and wait at a safe distance until the immediate danger subsides. Separate reporting highlighted the emotional toll of the conflict on Western audiences. President Zelenskyy previously shared an image of a dead toddler named Angelina, who was killed along with her mother and four others in a drone attack on a park in Nova Vodolaha, Kharkiv region. The image, showing the child in a stroller, was intended to counter growing apathy toward casualty reports in Europe. Critics questioned the ethical implications of sharing such graphic imagery, but supporters argued it was necessary to break through public numbness. This context underscores the ongoing struggle to sustain international attention and support amidst prolonged warfare. Russian state media has denied deliberately targeting civilians, though it has acknowledged striking transport and energy infrastructure.