At least 12 people have died and five others have been injured when a train and a van collided in the eastern Ukrainian region of Sumskaya, bordering on Russia, authorities say.
The commuter train ploughed into the van at a level crossing near the town of Vira on Tuesday, they said.
Apparently, the train dragged the van - which was carrying mainly students and teachers who were returning home after the school day - for some 300 metres.
Railway officials said the van's driver ignored the stop light prohibiting people from proceeding through the crossing and this was the cause of the collision.
President Viktor Yanukovych ordered the government to determine the circumstances surrounding the accident and assist the victims of the tragedy.
In 2010, 45 people died in a similar accident between a train and a bus in the eastern region of Dniepropetrovsk, the worst transportation accident in Ukraine's history.
