Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was involved in a security incident in Ukraine when a Russian drone struck a train near the Polish border. The attack occurred early on the morning of September 13, targeting a locomotive on a rail line close to the crossing between Ukraine and Poland. Johnson and a group of European diplomats, including former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt, were traveling on a diplomatic train that had departed earlier than scheduled due to concerns over potential Russian strikes.
Ukrainian state rail operator Ukrzaliznytsia indicated it was possible the drone intended to hit Johnson’s train, which was transporting 206 passengers from Kyiv to Warsaw. The locomotive destroyed by the drone belonged to a second train traveling behind Johnson’s service. Passengers on that train were evacuated approximately 15 minutes before the strike after warnings of an incoming jet-propelled drone. No casualties were reported from the incident.
Johnson condemned the attack as “random and senseless” and criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “warped logic” for targeting civilian infrastructure. He emphasized the toll of the war on Ukraine’s railway workers, citing over 1,700 deaths since the conflict began. Johnson called on Western allies to accelerate military support to Ukraine, including air defense systems, and suggested redirecting frozen Russian assets held abroad to aid Ukraine’s defense effort.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky described the strike as a deliberate act of aggression meant to disrupt Ukraine’s connections with Europe and highlighted the ongoing risks faced by Ukrainian citizens amid the war. Poland’s Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski characterized the attack as an escalation with Russia increasingly targeting areas near NATO borders.
The incident prompted calls within the UK for increased defense spending to strengthen European security. The British Defence Secretary reiterated the United Kingdom’s commitment to supporting Ukraine and bolstering NATO’s readiness. Opposition figures also stressed the importance of standing firm against Russian aggression.
The attack came amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the region, following other recent Russian strikes in Europe targeting infrastructure in countries including the United Kingdom and Germany. It also followed remarks from U.S. President Donald Trump, who urged Zelensky to cease attacks on Russian fuel infrastructure, citing worldwide diesel shortages caused by the conflict.
Johnson had been attending the Yalta European Strategy summit in Kyiv over the weekend, where discussions about a potential peace plan with Russia took place. The timing of the drone strike near the border, shortly after Johnson’s and senior UK security adviser Jonathan Powell’s transit through the area, underscored the volatile security situation facing Ukraine and its neighboring states.