The UN's top humanitarian official in Ukraine on Thursday condemned a Russian drone attack on the city of Dnipro that killed at least 13 civilians and injured 10 others at its main railway station.
"Civilians preparing for a trip, welcoming or bidding farewell to loved ones faced death and devastation," said Matthias Schmale , the Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, adding that displaced people and humanitarian workers at a transit centre at the station were left in shock by the nearby explosions.
Media outlets reported that a jet-powered drone hit the station as a train due to travel to Zaporizhzhia stood at a platform. An 11-year-old boy was among the injured, according to regional officials cited in the reports.
Rising risks for rail passengers
Mr. Schmale expressed condolences to the families of those killed on behalf of the UN, noting that train travel is a key means of transportation in Ukraine.
Since the start of the year, he said, travellers and railway workers have faced increased risks on every journey due to Russian military strikes and air alerts affecting the safety and reliability of trains.
According to figures from Ukraine's railway operator cited by media outlets, attacks on railway facilities have risen from 1,206 in 2025 to 1,700 so far this year.
Recent months have seen repeated attacks across the country on civilian infrastructure critical to daily life, including bridges, hospitals, schools, shopping centres and railway stations, Mr. Schmale said.
Inured to violence
"The images from Dnipro cannot become another story that fades from attention. Behind every casualty is a person, a family and a future changed forever," he said.
"It cannot be repeated often enough that civilians and civilian infrastructure are protected under international humanitarian law."
