Five dead after Russian drones hit passenger train with 155 aboard
The Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor’s Office reported that five people have been killed in a Russian attack on a passenger train in Kharkiv Oblast.
“The investigation has established that Russian forces attacked a passenger train on the Chop-Kharkiv-Barvinkove route on January 27, 2026, near the village of Yazykove in the Barvinkove “hromada,” a local government area that includes one or more nearby settlements, in the Izium District. Two hits have been recorded near the train, and a third strike hit a carriage, sparking a fire,” the statement reads.
The prosecutor’s office said that more than 155 passengers were on board.
Three people have been confirmed dead. A man and a woman have also sought medical assistance.
The prosecutor’s office reports that Russia used three attack drones in the strike, likely of the Geran-2 type.
Previously, ZMINA reported that Russian strikes on Odesa killed at least three and injured 25 people, including children and a pregnant woman, on the night of January 26-27.
Ukrainian experts point out that countries including China, North Korea, Hungary, Slovakia, Iran, and Brazil assist Moscow in killing Ukrainians in its war against Ukraine by funding the Russian budget through trade.
Newly appointed Ukrainian Ambassador to the UN Andriy Melnyk stated in an interview with Suspilne broadcaster that Brazil paid Russia almost $10 billion for 6.5 million tons of diesel.
Over the last three and a half years, China has become a critically important partner for the Russian Federation. While Beijing officially declares its neutrality, Western intelligence and analytical studies indicate otherwise. For instance, China does not supply weapons directly to Russia, but it provides critically important components, including machinery, microelectronics, specialized chemicals, optics, gunpowder, and ammunition components.
In 2024, then-U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that 70% of heavy industrial equipment and 90% of all microelectronics are sourced from China, which then flows into Russia.
Furthermore, according to recent NATO intelligence data, 80% of all Russian drones consist of Chinese parts.
According to The Telegraph newspaper, Chinese firms supplied sanctioned Russian companies with at least £47 million ($57.4 million USD) worth of parts between 2023 and 2024. Almost a quarter of the value of these supplies went to firms that produce Shahed-type drones.
Moreover, the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine stated that China is also providing intelligence to Russia. The Kremlin used this data to prepare missile strikes, particularly against objects belonging to foreign investors, though the specific targets were not clarified. China denies these accusations.
Following the imposition of Western sanctions, Beijing has become a key supplier to Russia of cars, clothing, raw materials, and a range of other goods. In 2023, Russia-China trade turnover set a historic record, exceeding $240 billion, which is more than 60% higher than before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to Chinese customs data.
Reuters also reported that China is buying oil and gas from Russia. The average daily volume of oil is more than two million barrels per day. During Vladimir Putin’s visit to Beijing, the countries signed a document for the supply of 106 billion cubic meters of gas per year to China.
Photo credit: the Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor’s Office
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