Ukraine-Russia war live: Putin accused of ‘act of terrorism’ after five killed in passenger train attack – UK Times

Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russian president Vladimir Putin of an “act of terrorism” after an attack by Moscow on a Ukrainian passenger train killed at least five people.

“In any country, a drone strike on a civilian train would be regarded in the same way – purely as an act of terrorism,” Zelensky said.

The war-time president said there was no “military justification” in Russia’s targeting civilians. He added that there were 18 people in the carriage that was hit and over 200 on the train in total.

Photographs posted online showed at least two carriages in flames next to a snow-covered railbed.

“Our cause – and this is what should unite all normal people in the world – is to ensure the progress of protecting life. This is possible through pressure on Russia.” he said.

A Russian drone strike on a passenger train in northeastern Ukraine killed five people, prosecutors said.

The attack set a train ablaze hours after Russian drones hammered the southern city of Odesa overnight, killing three people and wounding 25 as Moscow intensified its strikes aimed at pushing Kyiv to give up fighting.

In northeastern Kharkiv Region, prosecutors said fragments of five bodies had been found at the scene of the strike on the train by a village.

Photographs posted online showed at least two carriages in flames next to a snow-covered railbed.

The attack has been denounced as terrorism by president Volodymyr Zelensky as he called for intensified pressure on Moscow.

“In any country, a drone strike on a civilian train would be considered in exactly the same way – purely as terrorism,” Zelensky said.

“Our cause – and this is what should unite all normal people in the world – is to ensure the progress of protecting life. This is possible through pressure on Russia.” he said.

US officials have suggested that they are more amenable to backing Kyiv if the Donbas region is surrendered to Ukraine, according to the Financial Times.

More weapons were offered to Ukraine in peacetime if it agreed to withdraw forces from the eastern region, two sources told the publication.

Ukrainian and European officials suggested that the moves were an attempt to strongarm the country into ceding the entirety of the territory.

Russia currently controls 90 per cent of the Donbas region, while Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev said that the surrender of the area is the only “path to peace”.

Ukraine has said it will not give up any territory that Russia has failed to take by force.

Much of my hotel near the centre of the Black Sea port city of Odesa was wrecked when Shahed drones hit close by, setting buildings opposite ablaze and blowing out walls, shattering windows and collapsing ceilings where I was staying.

I had slept through the sirens warning of an approaching attack and was wrenched out of my slumber by the first enormous explosion which blew out windows in my room in the Hotel Alarus at around 2.20am.

For average wage earners in Russia, it’s a big payday. For criminals seeking to escape the harsh conditions and abuse in prison, it’s a chance at freedom. For immigrants hoping for a better life, it’s a simplified path to citizenship.

All they have to do is sign a contract to fight in Ukraine.

This desperate recruitment drive is part of Moscow’s strategy to replenish its forces in the nearly four-year conflict, while simultaneously avoiding an unpopular nationwide mobilisation. The bloody war of attrition has also seen foreign combatants join the fray. Following a mutual defence treaty in 2024, North Korea reportedly sent thousands of soldiers to help Russia defend its Kursk region against a Ukrainian incursion.

Slovakia will file a lawsuit challenging the European Union’s ban on Russian gas imports, after the policy won final approval on Monday.

European countries agreed to completely ban the imports by late 2027, but Slovakia and Hungary both voted against. Russian gas imports make up 90 percent of Hungary’s imports in the sector.

Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, is reported to have confirmed the news of the lawsuit, according to news website Dennik N.

Just days after trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi, President Donald Trump told reporters that “very good things are happening on Ukraine and Russia.”

His comments come as Kyiv and Moscow negotiators are set to meet again this Sunday, as US-brokered peace talks continue.

US officials said progress had been made towards an agreement, as envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner came away from the talks feeling optimistic that a deal could be reached soon.