A Russian drone that struck a passenger-train locomotive near Ukraine’s border with Poland may have been intended for a diplomatic train carrying former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other European officials, Ukrainian officials said.
The September 13, 2026, attack hit Yahodyn station in western Ukraine after the diplomatic train had departed ahead of schedule. Former CIA Director David Petraeus was aboard a separate train still at the station when the drone struck, according to the railway operator. No casualties were reported.
Ukrainian Railways said its monitoring staff detected the approaching drone and issued an evacuation warning about 15 minutes before impact. The operator described the weapon as jet-powered, although its exact model has not been independently confirmed.
The railway said the diplomatic train’s early departure reflected changes it makes to timetables in response to Russian attacks. It suggested that train could have been the intended target, but the reporting has not established that Russia deliberately sought to strike the visiting officials.
Johnson’s fellow passengers included former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt. The visitors were returning from the Yalta European Strategy conference in Kyiv.
British National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell and German Foreign and Security Policy Adviser Günter Sautter were also reportedly aboard. European advisers had held talks with Ukrainian government representatives about possible peace negotiations with Russia.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius called the attack a calculated escalation intended to frighten Europe when he spoke to reporters in Wolgast on September 14. He urged European countries to remain calm while making clear they could defend themselves.
“What Vladimir Putin is doing is dangerous. He knows that, and that is why he is doing it,” Pistorius said.
The locomotive was struck about 2 kilometers from the Polish border. Poland’s PKP Intercity subsequently said it had taken over the affected Warsaw-bound service, carrying 206 passengers, and that it would continue after customs clearance.
A separate drone strike hit a truck near the Yahodyn–Dorohusk road crossing, temporarily disrupting border operations. Polish officials said the attacks had not violated Poland’s airspace.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said it had targeted railway infrastructure in western Ukraine used to transport military cargo from Europe.