Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has condemned Vladimir Putin after a Russian drone attack struck railway infrastructure near the Ukrainian-Polish frontier as Johnson and other senior European figures traveled out of Ukraine.
Johnson was aboard a special train heading toward Poland after attending an international security conference in Kyiv when passengers received an evacuation warning amid reports of drones near the railway shortly after 5am.
Johnson escaped unharmed and later published photographs showing damage from the attack, using the incident to renew his calls for Western governments to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses and make Russian assets available to Kyiv.
Johnson’s Train Receives Early-Morning Drone Warning
The former prime minister was returning from Kyiv aboard a private train carrying politicians, diplomats and security officials when the journey was disrupted by a drone alert.
Passengers in part of the train were reportedly awakened by conductors and temporarily evacuated as drones were detected close to the railway.
An all-clear was subsequently issued after no additional drones were detected, allowing Johnson and the other passengers to continue toward Poland and cross into NATO territory.
Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt, who was also traveling on the train, confirmed that passengers had received an evacuation warning.
Train Behind Johnson’s Service Reportedly Hit
Bildt later clarified that Johnson’s train itself had not been struck. Instead, he said a train traveling only minutes behind them near the Polish border was hit.
According to Bildt, the affected train had been evacuated as the Russian drone approached and nobody was injured.
A locomotive operating on the Kyiv-Warsaw route was also reported to have been struck near the frontier.
Ukrainian railway authorities said the train was carrying 206 passengers when its locomotive was damaged, but no injuries were reported.
Images from the aftermath showed damage around the railway, while passengers were reportedly seen fleeing following the attack.
Johnson Accuses Putin of ‘Warped Logic’
Johnson reacted angrily to the incident, questioning the reasoning behind striking a stationary Ukrainian locomotive so close to Poland.
“I don’t know what warped logic drove Putin to blow up a stationary Ukrainian locomotive on the Polish border this morning,” he wrote on X.
The former Conservative leader argued that the incident illustrated the threat Ukrainian civilians and railway workers face from Russian attacks on a daily basis.
Johnson also claimed that 1,700 employees of Ukrzaliznytsia, Ukraine’s state railway company, had been killed during the war.
He praised railway workers and passengers for continuing to use the network despite the risks.
Former Prime Minister Demands More Air Defenses for Ukraine
Johnson used his experience near the border to renew pressure on Ukraine’s Western partners to provide Kyiv with additional air-defense capabilities.
He questioned why Ukraine had not been given more equipment to protect civilian and strategic infrastructure against Russian missiles and drones.
Johnson, who has remained one of Ukraine’s most vocal international supporters since leaving Downing Street, also renewed his demand for frozen Russian assets to be transferred to Kyiv.
He pointed specifically to more than €140 billion reportedly held in Belgium and approximately £10 billion in London, arguing that Britain could take a leading role in unlocking the funds.
Johnson Says Ukraine Can Win With Stronger Western Support
Despite the attack, Johnson expressed confidence in Ukraine’s ability to prevail.
He said his experiences during three days in the country had reinforced his belief that Ukrainians could ultimately succeed.
However, he argued that the conflict could be brought to an end more quickly if Western governments became more decisive about providing Ukraine with the military and financial resources it has requested.
“We will get this dreadful war over much faster if we all get serious and give them what they need and deserve,” Johnson said.
Senior European Officials Were Traveling From Kyiv
Johnson was not the only high-profile Western figure traveling through Ukraine during the strikes.
Günter Sautter, a senior foreign and security-policy adviser to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, was also reportedly traveling on the railway route.
Security advisers from Britain, France and Italy were among those making the journey, alongside German parliamentarians, diplomats and academics.
The officials had been in Kyiv for the 2026 annual meeting of the Yalta European Strategy, an international security conference bringing together Ukrainian and Western political figures.
Discussions during the gathering included possible peace negotiations with Russia and the future of international support for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government.
Russian Drone Reportedly Strikes Major Border Crossing
The railway attack formed part of a broader series of reported Russian strikes near Ukraine’s western frontier.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said a Russian drone also struck the Yahodyn-Dorohusk border crossing, one of Ukraine’s important transport connections with the European Union.
Footage circulating online appeared to show trucks burning in the area, while Ukrainian reports said a petrol station had also been hit.
No immediate casualties were reported.
The Polish military confirmed that an attack had taken place near the frontier.
Strike Reportedly Came Just Two Kilometres From Poland
Ukrainian railway officials said one of the attacks occurred approximately two kilometres from the Polish border.
The proximity of the strike to a NATO member has heightened concerns about Russian military activity increasingly approaching alliance territory.
Polish authorities activated defensive measures following the latest Russian strikes, reflecting growing concern in Warsaw about attacks taking place close to its eastern border.
The railway connecting Kyiv with Warsaw is particularly significant because it is regularly used by foreign politicians, diplomats and other officials traveling between Ukraine and Poland.
German MP Calls Attack ‘Dangerous Escalation’
Robin Wagener, a Green Party member of Germany’s Bundestag who was aboard the special train, described the drone attacks as both a threat to Ukrainian civilians and a dangerous escalation of the war.
Wagener argued that the strikes should also be interpreted as a message to countries providing assistance to Ukraine.
“Russia is becoming increasingly unscrupulous and is playing with fire right on the border of the European Union and NATO,” he said, calling for a stronger response.
Ukrainian Railways Remains on High Alert
Ukraine has accused Russia of systematically targeting its railway network, which remains essential for civilian transportation, military logistics and the movement of international visitors.
Ukrainian Railways said its monitoring center and personnel remained on heightened alert following attacks across the country.
Passengers have been warned that security conditions could result in evacuations, delays or route changes.
The latest incidents occurred during a broader wave of Russian strikes across Ukraine, with Ukrainian authorities reporting that hundreds of drones were launched overnight.
Attack Renews Concerns Along NATO’s Eastern Frontier
The reported strikes have attracted additional attention because of both their proximity to Poland and the presence of senior European officials traveling through the area.
For Johnson, the experience became another argument for expanding Western military support for Kyiv.
His train ultimately crossed safely into Poland, but the reported strike on the service traveling behind it demonstrated how close the visiting officials had come to the latest wave of attacks.
Johnson has now turned that experience into a renewed appeal to European governments: provide Ukraine with stronger air defenses, release frozen Russian assets and increase pressure on Moscow as the war continues.
