Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) has reported a successful drone strike on a Russian military train carrying fuel in the occupied Zaporizhzhia region.
“Railway roar – HUR soldiers crushed the military train of the occupiers,” read the caption accompanying a video shared by the agency.
While Kyiv Post could not independently verify the time or location of the footage, the video appears to show drones striking the train before it erupts into flames.
According to HUR, the strike took place on May 24. Operators from its active operations units used strike UAVs to track and target the train while it was moving through the Verkhny Tokmak-Molochansk-Fedorivka secftion of railway.
“A targeted strike on an occupation logistics facility was carried out directly during movement,” the report said.
The agency claims that at least three fuel tanks were destroyed, disrupting Russian railway supply lines into the occupied Zaporizhzhia region and Crimea.
“The armed struggle aimed at hindering and paralyzing the military logistics of the Muscovites continues,” the HUR added.
Separately, on Sunday, May 25, a railway train in Russia’s Belgorod region set off an explosive device planted under the tracks.
“The incident occurred in Novooskolsky district,” Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov wrote on Telegram. “According to preliminary information, a train ran over an explosive device under the rails, causing an explosion. There were no casualties.”
Gladkov said the blast damaged the railway’s contact network and led to a temporary suspension of train traffic.
The Russian Telegram channel SHOT reported that the explosion took place around 6 p.m. local time. A power line support reportedly fell during the incident, further damaging the railway’s contact infrastructure. A picture taken at the site have been widely shared on social media.
As of the morning of May 26, Gladkov had not provided further updates. It remains unclear whether the explosion was the result of sabotage and Ukrainian officials have not commented on the incident.
In late April, Ukrainian forces struck a Russian armored train using kamikaze drones, according to a report by the 152nd Separate Chasseurs Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).
The brigade shared a video of the operation with the caption: “We haven’t shot down a locomotive yet. But everything happens for the first time.”
Drone footage showed the device approaching a heavily armored train - outfitted with plating similar to Russia’s improvised “barn tanks” - before flying beneath the locomotive and detonating.
The brigade did not disclose the location of the strike or further operational details. From the video, it appears Ukrainian forces used a Mavic drone with an infrared camera to identify the target, followed by a kamikaze drone to execute the strike.
A Ukrainian aerial reconnaissance officer, speaking to Kyiv Post on condition of anonymity, called the footage “truly unique,” and added the train was operating close to the front line.
“This is a kind of greeting from World War II,” he said. “Armored trains used to be used for cannon fire. But in today’s warfare, using a train like this is about as effective as using pack animals on the battlefield.”
Junior Sergeant Stanislav Bunyatov of the 24th Aidar Assault Battalion reacted to the strike, writing: “Have you seen an armored assault train in this war? Then it’s time to look. The fa**ots used the railway to break through our defenses, but it didn’t work out - just a little bit.”
The Ukrainian military-themed Telegram channel “Gruz 200” also shared the footage, commenting: “We haven’t seen such a stupid move in a long time. Without the ability to maneuver, the train was simply f***ed up by FPV drones.”