25 dead in attack train station

Following its Independence Day, Ukraine mourns the deaths of many in a Russian missile attack on a passenger train. At least 25 people were killed. / 25 dead in attack train station

A rocket attack on a train station in Ukraine has killed at least 25 people.

The attack was aimed at a train station in the small town of Chaplyne in the central Ukrainian region of Dnipropetrovsk, Ukrainian news agencies reported, citing Zelenskyy’s speech to the UN Security Council via video link. Five train cars were therefore hit by a rocket.

Among the fatalities are five people who burned in their car. According to Selenskyj, an eleven-year-old boy was also among the fatalities. He died in his house, which was destroyed by a Russian missile. In his evening video message to the people, the head of state later said: “Tschaplyne is our pain today.”

Attack on Independence Day

On Wednesday, Ukraine marked Independence Day, when the country commemorates the declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Exactly six months ago – on February 24 – Russia invaded the neighboring country.

Zelenskyy had been warning for days that Moscow could try “something particularly cruel” this week. No celebrations were planned for Wednesday, and larger gatherings were banned until Thursday due to concerns about Russian attacks in the capital Kyiv.

“Six months ago, Russia declared war on us,” Zelenskyy said in his message to the Ukrainian people. “On February 24, we were told: You don’t stand a chance. On August 24, we say: Happy Independence Day, Ukraine!”

Air raid sirens in Kyiv

The President called on his countrymen to be vigilant. “Russian provocations and brutal attacks are possible,” he said. In Kyiv, air raid sirens roused residents from their sleep in the morning. A few people gathered in a square in the center where destroyed Russian tanks had been displayed over the weekend. The national anthem is also played there every morning at 7:00 am.

In eastern Ukraine, Russian troops again attacked towns and villages in the Donetsk region, according to Ukrainian sources. One person died and two others were injured.

Shoigu: “Do everything to avoid civilian casualties”

On the southern front, the cities of Nikopol and Marhanets are said to have been the target of attacks again. Several buildings were damaged and two people were injured, the governor’s office said. The Russian military is also said to have shelled the city of Zaporizhia. No casualties were reported from there.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Russia is using high-precision weapons in attacks on military targets in Ukraine and is doing “everything to avoid civilian casualties”. That “undoubtedly” slows down the pace of their own offensive, but that’s intentional. According to Western military experts, the Russian armed forces have not yet achieved the goals set by the Kremlin in their war of aggression.

Baerbock currently sees no point in peace talks

Meanwhile, Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) made it clear that she sees no point in possible talks with the Russian government about ending the Ukraine war in the current situation. Moscow is not even willing to “really extensively negotiate humanitarian corridors,” said Baerbock in an interview with the ZDF “heute journal”.

The Federal Foreign Minister stressed that up to the start of the Russian invasion, the West had “done everything” to prevent this war. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has done everything to “destroy these peace talks, now he has been destroying an innocent country for six months”. At the moment there is nothing more to do than continue to “support Ukraine with arms deliveries”.

US again warns against Russian “sham referendums”

Meanwhile, the US again warned that Russia could soon hold rigged referendums in occupied Ukrainian territories for annexation to Moscow. The Russian leadership has instructed government officials to prepare “sham referendums” in the Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhia regions, among others, said White House national security spokesman John Kirby.

“These referendums could start within days or weeks,” Kirby said. “In fact, we could see a Russian announcement of the first referendum or referendums before the end of this week.” Russia wants to manipulate the referendum results to create the false impression that Ukrainians want to join Russia, Kirby said.

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