Russia targeting EU, UK officials? Ukraine’s big claim after drone strike

The drone struck a locomotive at Yahodyn station

A Russian drone strike on a train near the Ukraine-Poland border may have been aimed at a diplomatic train carrying former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt and European security officials, Ukraine’s state railway operator has claimed.The drone struck a locomotive at Yahodyn station, around 2 km from the Polish border, shortly after the diplomatic train carrying the senior officials had passed through the area. No casualties were reported.According to Ukrzaliznytsia, the diplomatic train had left the station earlier than scheduled after railway authorities adjusted timetables in real time because of the continuing threat of Russian strikes.“It is quite likely that the target of this Russian drone could also have been the diplomatic train,” the railway operator said, according to the Daily Mail.Ukrzaliznytsia later confirmed that the diplomatic train had been at the site shortly before the strike. It said the train was carrying security advisers from several European Union member states, along with former European leaders including Johnson.The delegation had been returning from the Yalta European Strategy conference in Kyiv.

Bildt later shared footage of the attack on X, saying the train struck was not theirs but had been travelling just minutes behind them.“This wasn't our train, but the one just minutes after us by the Polish border crossing,” Bildt said. “It was evacuated as the Russian drone approached and no one was hurt.”Another train carrying former CIA Director David Petraeus was reportedly still at Yahodyn station when the drone struck.Johnson condemned the attack, describing it as “random and senseless” and saying it reflected the kind of attacks Ukrainians face on a daily basis.The incident has raised concerns over the safety of foreign officials travelling through western Ukraine, particularly as the strike occurred close to the border of NATO member Poland.Russia has not said that the diplomatic train was the intended target. Moscow said its forces had targeted infrastructure facilitating the movement of military cargo from Europe into western Ukraine.The strike came amid a broader escalation in long-range attacks. Earlier on Sunday, a Russian drone also hit a truck near the Ukraine-Poland border, temporarily disrupting operations at the Yahodyn-Dorohusk crossing.