Deadly Russian Strikes Claim 12 Lives in Ukraine

Kyiv, Ukraine:

In a series of overnight assaults, Russian forces killed at least 12 individuals across Ukraine, impacting a passenger train as well as residential neighborhoods and energy infrastructure, according to Ukrainian authorities on Tuesday.

In the northeastern Kharkiv region, a drone strike hit a train carrying approximately 200 passengers, resulting in the deaths of at least five people. Prosecutors released images of the burning carriage, with emergency services confirming the subsequent extinguishing of the flames.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned these attacks, arguing there was no military justification for targeting civilians. He asserted that such actions disrupt peace initiatives and called upon allies to intensify pressure on Moscow.

In Odesa, over 50 Russian drones were involved in strikes that left three dead and injuring more than 30, including a 39-week pregnant woman and two young girls, as per officials. Several residential structures were wrecked, and rescue teams diligently searched through debris for survivors.

A married couple, ages 45 and 48, fell victim to a strike in Sloviansk, leaving their 20-year-old son as the sole survivor. Additional casualties were reported in the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions due to ongoing drone and shelling attacks.

The Russian strikes also inflicted serious damage on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. The private energy company DTEK reported significant damage to one of its facilities in Odesa, while the state gas firm Naftogaz indicated another facility was ablaze, marking the fifth attack this month alone. Millions in Ukraine are facing power and heating outages amid freezing conditions.

Ukraine's air force reported that 165 attack drones were launched during the night, with an infrastructure site in the Lviv region also targeted.

Despite peace negotiations being held in the United Arab Emirates, Zelensky underscored that the bombardments are undermining diplomatic efforts. The forthcoming round of negotiations is anticipated on February 1.

Meanwhile, Russia announced the capture of two villages located in the Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv regions, continuing their methodical advancement on the front lines.