Russian drone strikes train at Ukraine-Poland border minutes after diplomatic delegation departs
A Russian drone struck a locomotive at a railway station near Ukraine's border with Poland on Sunday, minutes after a diplomatic train carrying high-profile international figures had left the facility, according to Ukraine's state railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia.
The attack targeted Yahodyn station in Ukraine's Volyn Oblast, located approximately two kilometers from Polish territory at a strategic crossing point where trains exchange bogies between different rail gauge systems. The station sits directly opposite Poland's Dorohusk railway station and serves as a critical junction for international rail traffic between the two countries.
Former leaders narrowly avoid attack
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt were aboard the diplomatic train that had departed Yahodyn ahead of its scheduled time. The two former leaders, along with security advisers from several European Union states, were returning from the 22nd Yalta European Strategy Annual Meeting in Kyiv, which took place on September 11-12 and gathered approximately 700 leaders from politics, business, media, and civil society. The conference, founded in 2004 by Ukrainian businessman Victor Pinchuk and often referred to as the "Ukrainian Davos," focuses on Ukraine's European integration.
Bildt, who served as Sweden's Prime Minister from 1991 to 1994 and later as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2006 to 2014, shared video footage of the attack on social media platform X.
This wasn't our train, but the one just minutes after us by the Polish border crossing. It was evacuated as the Russian drone approached and no one was hurt. Very good safety system. Our train just had an evacuation warning.
Ukrzaliznytsia stated in a Telegram post that the diplomatic train's early departure likely saved lives.
It is highly probable that the Russian drone's intended target was in fact the diplomatic train, which had departed the station earlier than scheduled,the company said, adding that it
constantly adjusts train schedulesto protect against strikes.
Former CIA director present during attack
Former CIA Director David Petraeus was aboard another train still at Yahodyn station when the drone struck. Petraeus, who served 37 years in the US military including commands during the Iraq Surge and in Afghanistan before leading the CIA, has traveled to Ukraine ten times since Russia's 2022 invasion and has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine's defense efforts. He is currently a partner at investment firm KKR.
No casualties were reported from any of the trains present at the station during the attack. The railway operator confirmed that safety protocols, including train evacuations, were successfully implemented as the drone approached.
Johnson condemns attack
Johnson, who served as UK Prime Minister from July 2019 to September 2022 and dealt extensively with the Russian invasion during his tenure, condemned the attack on social media.
I don't know what warped logic drove Putin to blow up a stationary Ukrainian locomotive on the Polish border this morning. What we can say for sure is that this is the kind of random and senseless attack Ukrainians are enduring every day — even on civilian railways.
During his time in office, Johnson took an early hawkish stance toward Russia's invasion and authorized British anti-tank weapons and billions in aid to Ukraine, establishing himself as one of Ukraine's strongest international allies.
Pattern of attacks on border infrastructure
The strike at Yahodyn marked the second consecutive day of Russian attacks on railway infrastructure in the area. Earlier on Sunday, a Russian drone hit a truck less than a mile from Polish territory, forcing the temporary closure of the Yahodyn-Dorohusk border crossing, according to border guards.
The attack is part of intensified Russian drone warfare against Ukrainian infrastructure and civilian targets throughout 2026. The incidents near the Polish border raise particular security concerns due to the proximity to NATO territory, though Polish authorities have not reported any violations of their airspace in connection with Sunday's attacks.
