On Sunday, November 8th, two passenger trains crashed in Ukraine along a strategic route connecting Kiev and Moscow. There are claims that the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) were behind the explosions.
The train connections on this road are then linked to Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, putting at risk the safety of not only those travelling on the trains but those working at or living close to the nuclear sites as well. According to a source in the Security Service, the blasts were caused by planted explosives inside the passenger cars of one of the trains.
The attack came days after a summit of the four-nation ‘Normandy Format’ (Russia, Ukraine, France, and Germany), was scheduled to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas. This has raised concerns that the attack was politically motivated.
The incident has caused a major disruption to the roughly 500,000 commuters which travel along the route each day. Ukrainian Prime Minister Alexandr Honcharuk expressed his sorrow over the tragedy and announced the closure of the train station until a full investigation can be made. Witnesses reported being evacuated from the scene by firefighters as flames and smoke were seen from the derailed trains.
The Ukrainian Security Service has denied any involvement in the explosions but have not yet released a statement. Speculation still lingers as to whether the service intentionally targeted the commuters and the strategic route to make a political statement or whether it was a result of negligence or another terrorist act.
Until further details are released, survivors and those affected can only wait for answers to these questions. The incident is a tragic reminder of the nature of conflict within the region and the damage it can inflict on lives and livelihoods.
It is yet to be seen what the implications of this attack for in Ukraine will be investigating the Security Service’s involvement.
