Russia intensifies attacks on Ukraine's railways, injures multiple civilians

On September 18, 2025, Ukraine faced renewed aerial bombardment as Russia targeted its railway infrastructure. This latest offensive resulted in at least five injuries in the central Poltava region, specifically in the Myrhorod district. According to regional governor Volodymyr Kohut, one individual was injured due to a fire caused by a Russian strike that emergency services later contained. Ukraine's state-owned railway operator, Ukrzaliznytsia, confirmed that strikes had temporarily cut power to rail stations, causing significant delays in passenger train operations across the region. The Russian strikes on Poltava followed a large-scale attack on Ukraine's railways a day earlier, a part of a coordinated campaign aimed at disrupting logistics and civilian infrastructure throughout the country. Oleksiy Kuleba, the Ukrainian Minister of Territorial Development, condemned these attacks, asserting that Russia deliberately targeted Ukraine's logistics in an attempt to apply pressure on the civilian population and the economy. He emphasized that the goal was to complicate transportation of both passengers and cargo, further aggravating the situation as Ukraine continues to navigate challenges due to ongoing war. In addition to the attack in Poltava, Ukrainian officials reported a drone attack in the Nizhin area of the Chernihiv region that resulted in fatalities amongst local rescuers. During the commemoration of Ukraine's Rescuer Day, one rescuer was killed and two others were wounded in a drone strike attributed to Russian forces, which Vyacheslav Chaus, the local military administrator, described as particularly cruel. Meanwhile, the Russian Air Force claimed that it repulsed a significant drone attack on the Volgograd region, where debris from the drones caused damage to residential properties. The scale of the conflict remains a concern as the Ukrainian Air Force stated that it managed to shoot down 48 out of 75 Russian-launched drones, yet 26 drone hits were recorded at various locations in Ukraine. The violence on both sides indicates a continued escalation in hostilities as each nation seeks to undermine the other's military capabilities and civilian infrastructure, leading to further humanitarian crises. As military operations intensify, the repercussions on the civilian population appear increasingly severe, highlighting the urgent need for diplomatic resolutions amidst ongoing attacks.