Russian Drone Hits Ukrainian Train Shortly After Boris Johnson and European Officials Leave Station

By Angel No Lie | KPD Online | September 13, 2026

A Russian drone struck a Ukrainian railway train near the country’s border with Poland on Sunday, shortly after a train carrying former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt and several European security officials had passed through the area.

The incident occurred near Yahodyn station in western Ukraine, close to the Yahodyn-Dorohusk crossing with Poland, as Russia launched a major wave of drone attacks across Ukraine.

According to Ukraine’s state railway operator, Ukrzaliznytsia, the diplomatic train carrying Johnson and other European officials had left the station earlier than scheduled as railway authorities adjusted movements because of the continuing threat of Russian strikes.

The railway company said it was highly possible that the diplomatic train had been the intended target, although there was no immediate independent confirmation of that assessment. A separate train was struck after the diplomatic train had departed.

Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt, who was travelling with the delegation, said the train that was hit had been only minutes behind theirs. He said passengers on the affected train were evacuated before the drone reached the area and that nobody was injured.

Former U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Director David Petraeus was also reportedly in the vicinity, travelling on another train that was still at Yahodyn when the attack occurred.

Johnson later condemned the strike, describing it as another example of the danger faced by civilians using Ukraine’s railway network.

The attack came as Russia carried out one of its largest drone barrages against Ukraine in months. Ukrainian officials reported hundreds of drones being launched against targets across the country, with western regions also coming under attack.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the incident as a serious warning for Europe, saying Russian attacks were increasingly reaching areas close to the European Union and NATO.

Polish authorities also heightened security along the border following the strikes. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called an emergency meeting of senior security officials and warned that Russia’s intensifying campaign could pose a growing threat to Poland.

Moscow has said its strikes on western Ukrainian railway infrastructure are aimed at routes used to transport military equipment and supplies from European countries. Russia has not publicly confirmed that the train carrying Johnson and the other European officials was specifically targeted.

The incident nevertheless highlights the growing risks surrounding Ukraine’s railway network, which has remained a vital transportation route for civilians, officials and foreign visitors since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.

No deaths or injuries were immediately reported among the passengers on the train that was struck.

The proximity of the attack to the departure of the European delegation is likely to fuel further questions over whether Russian forces were attempting to disrupt or intimidate high-profile visitors travelling through Ukraine. For now, however, the circumstances surrounding the drone’s intended target remain under investigation.