Russian “Shahed” struck Zhytomyr–Odesa passenger train in Odesa region: among passengers 15 children

In the Odesa region a Russian jet-powered drone of the “Shahed” type hit the locomotive of passenger train No.147 Zhytomyr – Odesa. The train was stopped before the attack, and all passengers were evacuated.

This was reported on 23 August by the head of the board of Ukrzaliznytsia, Oleksandr Peretsovskyi.

According to him, the company’s monitoring team detected the threat in advance. The train was stopped on the section, after which passengers were led to a safe place. It was only after the evacuation that the drone struck the locomotive.

There were 593 passengers on the train, including 15 children. Railway crews were also evacuated. According to preliminary information, no one was injured.

“Thanks to the timely warning and coordinated work, casualties were avoided,” Ukrzaliznytsia said.

After the attack, further travel to Odesa is being organized for the passengers.

Jet-powered drone struck the locomotive

This concerns specifically a jet-powered UAV of the “Shahed” type. Such drones can travel at much higher speeds than ordinary strike drones, which reduces the time available for response and evacuation.

According to reports from the Air Forces, on the morning of 23 August Russian strike drones were moving from the Black Sea waters toward the south of Odesa region. Among them were jet-powered UAVs.

In the nighttime attack Russia used a total of 127 strike drones of various types.

At the same time, the exact point of impact on the locomotive of train No.147 and the nature of the damage are not being disclosed at this time.

There is also no information about damage to passenger cars or rail infrastructure. Ukrzaliznytsia has so far reported only a hit on the locomotive.

After evacuating people, railway workers together with local services are organizing their further transportation to Odesa.

It is not yet reported whether the damaged consist of train No.147 will continue to move or whether passengers will be transported to the final destination by other means.

There are also no confirmed data on the duration of the train’s delay or the final arrangement of the remainder of the route.

This is not the first strike on a locomotive in the Odesa region

The attack on 23 August was another instance of Russian drones striking rail transport.

In particular, on 13 August in the Odesa region a Russian jet-powered “Shahed” hit the locomotive of the passenger train Odesa – Dnipro. At that time the driver and his assistant were killed. Before the strike they stopped the train, which allowed 340 passengers to evacuate, among them 67 children.

In recent months there have also been attacks on rail transport in Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy and Kharkiv regions.

On 19 July a Russian drone attacked a passenger train in Zaporizhzhia region. A conductor received a leg wound then, and passengers were evacuated and arranged bus transfers.

On 24 July a UAV hit the locomotive of a passenger train in Dnipropetrovsk region. Passengers and railway workers managed to evacuate; fires and damage were reported.

On 8 August a Russian drone attacked the Sumy – Kyiv train in Sumy region. The drone struck the locomotive, a fire broke out, and one of the cars was damaged. Passengers were also evacuated in time.

Separately, on 27 July in Donetsk region a Russian jet-powered “Shahed” attacked a Ukrzaliznytsia repair crew that was restoring damaged infrastructure. One worker was killed and at least two others were wounded.

Recall that on 10 June a Russian UAV fell on railway infrastructure territory in Sumy. Four people were injured; their condition is assessed as satisfactory.