The Russian forces launched fresh strikes against Ukraine early Wednesday, Sept. 17, targeting Ukrzaliznytsia substations and cutting power to the regional center of Kropyvnytskyia and 44 settlements in the Kirovohrad region.
Local authorities reported that both Kropyvnytskyi and 44 settlements in the Oleksandrivka territorial community were partially without electricity. Several private homes in Oleksandrivka were also damaged.
“Emergency workers have been extinguishing fires all night. The main thing is that people are alive. The consequences of the enemy attack are currently being eliminated,” said regional governor Andriy Raykovych on Telegram.
The State Emergency Service (DSNS) confirmed that Russian forces struck infrastructure facilities in the Kropyvnytskyi district. Fires broke out in three locations following UAV hits.
“There is no information about the injured or dead. All emergency services are working at the scene. Sixty-one rescuers and 14 units of equipment are involved in eliminating the consequences of the attack,” DSNS reported.
The strikes disrupted rail service. Ukrzaliznytsia said passenger trains on the Odesa and Dnipro routes would face delays. Twenty reserve diesel locomotives have been deployed, and some trains were stopped at safe distances.
International rail connections in Chełm and Przemyśl are also being coordinated with foreign rail operators to manage transfers, waiting times, and expedited border control.
Five suburban services were canceled Wednesday morning, and delays or temporary route changes are expected.
“Work is underway to restore power to signaling equipment, and traffic is currently operating in a backup format,” Ukrzaliznytsia said.
Overnight, Russian forces launched a massive drone strike on Ukrzaliznytsia substations powering the railway network, Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction Oleksiy Kuleba reported on Telegram.
He said the strikes aimed to disrupt passenger and cargo transportation, destabilize rail operations, and exert additional pressure on civilians and the economy.
“At the time of the attack, more than 20 passenger trains were on their routes. Ukrzaliznytsia dispatchers stopped them at a safe distance, and employees were taken to shelters,” Kuleba wrote.
No passengers or railway workers were injured.
As of the morning of Sept. 17, 26 trains were running with delays of more than an hour.
Explosions were also reported in the Cherkasy region. Regional head Ihor Taburets said on Telegram: “The enemy has directed strike UAVs at Cherkasy region. There are consequences for critical infrastructure.”
He said there were no casualties, and rescuers managed to extinguish the fire at the facility.
“According to Ukrzaliznytsia, Russian aggression has caused delays in passenger trains passing through the region,” Taburets added.
According to preliminary reports, the town of Smila was the main target, with residents reporting at least six loud explosions around 1 a.m.
This ongoing news story will be updated as more information becomes available.