Matthias Schmale, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, expressed deep condemnation on Thursday regarding a Russian drone strike on the main railway station in Dnipro. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least 13 civilians and left 10 others injured, including an 11-year-old boy according to regional officials. Media reports indicate that a jet-powered drone struck the station while a train bound for Zaporizhzhia was waiting at a platform. Schmale described the scene as one where civilians preparing for travel or saying goodbye to loved ones faced sudden death and devastation, leaving displaced people and humanitarian workers at a nearby transit center in shock.
The incident underscores a significant increase in danger for railway travelers and workers since the beginning of the year. Schmale noted that Russian military strikes and air alerts have compromised the safety and reliability of train travel, which remains a key transportation method in Ukraine. Data from Ukraine's railway operator cited by media outlets reveals that attacks on railway facilities have surged from 1,206 in 2025 to 1,700 so far this year. Schmale emphasized that recent months have seen repeated assaults on critical civilian infrastructure across the nation, including bridges, hospitals, schools, shopping centers, and railway stations.
In a separate development regarding humanitarian access, Schmale announced that preparations to deliver aid to Oleshky, a Russian-occupied town in the Kherson region, are accelerating while a local ceasefire remains in effect. Deliveries could arrive as early as Friday under a truce brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump and announced by the White House on October 23, which is scheduled to end on the evening of November 1. Ukraine's Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, stated he is traveling to the town to accompany residents out.
Schmale identified mined roads as a primary reason residents have been trapped, pointing to images of a stretch locally known as the "road of death." He stressed that safe passage requires prior mine clearance, noting that reports confirm demining operations are underway. While the UN has offered support for the evacuation, Schmale clarified that this offer has not been taken up and none of their partners are currently involved in the operation. However, established procedures dictate that evacuees will receive food, material assistance, and potential housing help once they reach government-controlled areas.
Estimates suggest that between 200 and 300 people may leave Oleshky, leaving more than 1,000 residents behind in need of support. Schmale cited accounts from UN human rights monitors, civil society groups, and Ukrainian authorities regarding the dire conditions remaining in the town. The local health facility is described as barely functional and short of medicine, while keeping warm during winter amid energy disruptions poses a growing challenge. Safe water and public infrastructure remain pressing needs, and Schmale warned that mental health issues resulting from prolonged entrapment under heavy bombardment must not be overlooked.
Sources: UN News English.