Kyiv officials said a Russian drone struck a passenger train on Sunday near the town of Yahodyn, a key crossing point for Western aid into Ukraine. The attack occurred just after a diplomatic train carrying former British prime minister Boris Johnson and other European officials had departed for Poland.
Officials describe the incident as a targeted strike
Ukrainian Railways said it was “quite likely” the drone was aimed at the officials’ train, though the diplomatic convoy had already crossed the border into Poland when the explosion hit a nearby civilian train. The rail operator added that Russian forces have been focusing on railway infrastructure used to move military cargoes from European countries.
High‑profile figures were in the area
Former U.S. CIA director David Petraeus was waiting at Yahodyn station on a separate train that remained at the platform when the drone struck. CNN has reached out to Petraeus for comment. Former British prime minister Boris Johnson was on the diplomatic train that left the station about two kilometres from the Polish border, avoiding the blast.
Swedish former prime minister Carl Bildt also reported being on a train near the border at the time. Bildt posted a video on X showing a drone hitting a train and passengers evacuating.
Ukrainian leaders condemn the attack
Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha called the strike “Putin’s terror ‘knocking’ directly on the doors of the EU and NATO.” Former prime minister Johnson condemned the attack, saying he could not understand “what warped logic drove Putin to blow up a stationary Ukrainian locomotive.” He described the incident as “the kind of random and senseless attack Ukrainians are enduring every day – even on civilian railways.”
Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski warned that the strike escalates the security threat for both Ukraine and neighboring Poland. British defence minister Wes Streeting called the attacks “a stark reminder” of the daily dangers Ukrainians face and pledged continued UK cooperation with allies to strengthen European security.
Context of heightened Russian activity
The drone strike follows a series of Russian attacks near the Polish border, including a recent hit on a gas station in Yahodyn that briefly shut the crossing. Russia’s defence ministry said its forces were targeting “railway infrastructure facilities in western Ukraine that are used to transport military cargoes from European countries,” according to state news agency TASS.
Earlier in the week, a Russian drone entered Moldovan airspace as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was preparing to depart from the capital, highlighting the expanding reach of Russian aggression in the region.
International security conference in Kyiv
Petraeus and the European officials were attending the Yalta European Strategy (YES) conference in Kyiv, a gathering focused on coordinating security and defence efforts among Western allies. The incident underscores the ongoing risks faced by diplomats and officials traveling in Ukraine’s border regions.
Ukrainian authorities continue to urge heightened vigilance and increased protection for rail lines and border crossings that are vital for delivering military and humanitarian aid to the front lines.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
