A Russian drone attack targeted a train near the Ukraine-Poland border shortly after former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other prominent European security officials had passed through the area. The incident occurred at Yahodyn, striking the train’s engine, but fortunately, no injuries were reported. Ukrainian authorities confirmed that all passengers had been evacuated beforehand.
Officials’ Train Journey and Evacuation
Johnson, along with other European national security advisers, including Jonathan Powell from the UK, had traveled on a different train along the same route. They were returning from the Yalta European Strategy (YES) conference held in Kyiv.
In a statement, Ukraine’s state railway company, Ukrzaliznytsia, suggested the drone might have targeted a diplomatic train. The train had departed earlier than scheduled due to a change in the timetable, prompted by ongoing threats of Russian strikes. An evacuation alert was issued just 15 minutes before the drone hit, according to the railway authority.
Former CIA chief David Petraeus was reportedly on another train at Yahodyn station during the attack. Both Ukrainian and Polish officials confirmed the drone strike occurred approximately 2 kilometers from the Polish border.
Reactions from Officials
Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt, who also attended the conference in Kyiv, informed the BBC that passengers on his train were instructed to prepare for evacuation. However, they were later allowed to continue their journey, reaching Poland’s border station in Dorohusk safely. Some reports suggested Bildt was on the same train as Johnson, although Johnson has not verified these claims.
Johnson expressed his thoughts on social media, questioning the rationale behind what he described as a “senseless attack” on a stationary Ukrainian locomotive close to the Polish border. He highlighted the random nature of such attacks that Ukrainians face daily, including on civilian railways.
Calls for Increased Support
Johnson also criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for the deaths of 1,700 Ukrzaliznytsia staff members and urged Ukraine’s allies to provide the necessary air defenses. Ukraine has consistently requested additional interceptors from allies like the US to protect against Russian assaults involving fast-moving ballistic missiles and jet-propelled drones.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned the attack near the Ukraine-Poland border as a direct threat to the EU and NATO, calling for tougher sanctions on Moscow. He emphasized the need for decisive actions to make the war more costly for Putin.
Escalation of Russian Attacks
In response to the escalating situation, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk convened an emergency meeting to address the developments. Tusk remarked that the proximity of Russian actions to Poland’s border is increasingly concerning.
Recent weeks have seen a series of Russian drone attacks on Ukrainian railways and border crossings. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported fatalities from similar strikes, including casualties at a border crossing with Moldova and on a passenger train in southern Ukraine.
These attacks have severely impacted Ukraine’s rail network, a crucial means of transportation for millions as air travel remains suspended since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022. European nations have also accused Russia of involvement in suspicious incidents on their soil, further straining international relations.
