Poland and Ukraine have condemned Russian drone strikes that targeted a Warsaw-bound train near the Ukrainian-Polish border, describing the attacks as an escalation in the ongoing conflict. The incident occurred on Sunday, just two kilometers from the Polish frontier, with no reported casualties.
The targeted train was stationary near the border when a drone hit the locomotive. Ukrainian rail operator Ukrzaliznytsia reported that former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and former US CIA Director David Petraeus were nearby at the time, traveling on separate trains in the same area. Both had attended the annual Yalta European Strategy forum in Kyiv the day before. While Johnson and the European officials on his train continued their journey, the affected passenger train, carrying 206 passengers from Kyiv to Warsaw, was evacuated prior to the strike.
Petraeus described hearing drones above followed by an explosion, calling the attack terrifying and characterizing it as an effort to terrorize Ukrainian civilians. Johnson took to social media to condemn the strike, questioning the reasoning behind Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to target a stationary locomotive close to the Polish border. He described the act as “random and senseless,” highlighting the risks faced daily by Ukrainians, including attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of deliberately targeting the train as part of a broader campaign against Ukraine’s energy and transportation infrastructure. He emphasized that Ukrainian forces fight daily to prevent such attacks from spreading further into Europe. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk convened an emergency meeting following the incident and warned of potential further escalation, expressing concern about the security risks to Poland and the wider region.
Poland’s Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski urged Western allies to increase support for Ukraine, noting the proximity of the strike to Polish territory and the potential dangers involved. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Syibiga suggested that Putin’s actions signaled a de facto state of war with Europe.
Russia claimed responsibility, stating its strikes targeted railway infrastructure used to transport military supplies from European countries to Ukrainian forces.
The attack comes amid heightened tensions following recent US diplomatic efforts to revive peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow, as well as an increase in Russian strikes on western Ukraine. With Ukrainian airspace closed, trains crossing into Poland have become a vital route for people fleeing the conflict, including refugees and officials traveling to and from Kyiv.
British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting described the strikes as a stark reminder of the daily bombardment faced by Ukrainians and warned they underscored Russia’s broader security threat to neighboring countries. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump urged Ukrainian President Zelensky to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries, warning they were causing fuel shortages and suggesting other targets were available. Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russian refineries in an effort to hamper Moscow’s war capabilities.