FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Lying in a hospital bed in the capital, Olha Zolotova quietly recounts the horror she experienced when her train was hit by a Russian drone.
"My eyes went black, everything was burning. My hair caught fire and I was trapped," she says.
The incident occurred at the Shostka railway station in the Sumy region, where a Shahed drone hit the train Olha was working on. Moments later, another drone hit the same station in a double attack that Ukraine says directly targeted civilians, a possible war crime under international law.
The attack injured 30 people, including three children, while one man died, likely from a heart attack.
According to Ukrainian railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ), attacks on the rail network have doubled in recent months. Officials say that almost half of all rail strikes since the start of the war have occurred in the past two months alone.
Oleksiy Balesta, Deputy Minister of Transport, emphasizes that Russia is deliberately targeting trains and supporting infrastructure, including locomotives, stations and power systems.
"Almost every day we have attacks on our infrastructure," he says, as another attack is reported on the train between Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, near the front line.
According to analysts, Russia is now using drones as a strategic weapon to paralyze Ukraine's internal movements, damage the economy, and cause panic among civilians.
However, Ukraine has not given up. UZ executive director Oleksandr Pertsovskyi emphasizes that the country is responding with contingency plans, staff training, and coordination with the military.
"Our goal is that no service is canceled. If the train can't run, we use buses. We always have Plan B, C and D ," he declares.
At Kiev's central station, railway workers who fought the flames during the attacks are rewarded with certificates of bravery and extra pay, proudly being called "Iron Heroes."
Meanwhile, threats to infrastructure are not stopping. Russia has also intensified attacks on energy systems, leaving hundreds of thousands of citizens without electricity, while Ukraine has responded with attacks on Russian refineries.
With winter approaching, Ukrainian officials are warning of a harsh season and calling on allies for more support, especially in air defense.
"But we are not discouraged, Ukrainians remain strong in spirit. This strength will be tested as the country prepares for the fourth winter of war," says Pertsovskyi.
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