New Delhi, Jan 28: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has described a Russian drone attack on a passenger train as an act of ìterrorismî, after local officials said at least four people were killed.
The train, which was carrying more than 200 passengers, was hit on Tuesday in Ukraineís north-eastern Kharkiv region.
Zelensky said four other people were still missing following the attack.
In a separate incident, officials in the southern port city of Odesa said three people were killed overnight after Russia launched a large drone attack on the city.
Russia has not commented on either incident.
Writing on social media, Zelensky said, ìIn any country, a drone strike on a civilian train would be considered in exactly the same way ñ purely as terrorism.î
He said there was no ìmilitary justificationî for targeting civilians and said 18 people had been inside the carriage that was hit.
Images released by Ukraineís emergency services showed a badly damaged train carriage still on fire after the strike.
The attack took place near the village of Yazykove.
One drone hit a carriage directly, while two others exploded close to the train.
The train was travelling from the western border town of Chop to Barvinkove in the Kharkiv region, passing through the regional capital, Kharkiv.
Meanwhile, in Odesa, officials said Russia launched more than 50 drones overnight, targeting energy facilities and other civilian infrastructure, in which three people were killed, and at least 25 were injured, officials said.
Several floors of a residential building collapsed, and nearby buildings were also damaged. Russia has stepped up drone and missile attacks on Ukraineís energy and transport infrastructure in recent months, leaving millions without heating, electricity, and water during one of the countryís harshest winters.
Moscow currently controls about 20 percent of Ukrainian territory.
The latest attacks come despite renewed Ukraine-Russia talks last week, which also involved US negotiators.
The meetings, held in the United Arab Emirates, were described as constructive, but major territorial issues remain unresolved.
Further talks are expected this weekend.
