Russia's strikes on railways put civilian train travel near Polish border at risk

Russian forces have continued targeting Ukraine's railway infrastructure and border crossings, raising the level of danger for civilians who rely on train travel. Recent reports indicate a passenger train close to the Polish border was hit, while drone swarms have been reaching further into western Ukraine than before.

Tusk's earlier warning

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk had warned days before the incident that Moscow could direct attacks against crossings linking Ukraine and Poland. That warning now carries added weight given Russia's continuing strikes on rail hubs situated close to the border of an EU and NATO member state.

Since the start of the full-scale war, railways have served as a critical means of civilian transport and evacuation in Ukraine, as well as a vital logistics channel for humanitarian aid and Western military support. Attacks on this infrastructure directly threaten both residents who depend on trains for daily movement or evacuation and the cross-border cooperation taking place in the frontier zone.

The situation near the Polish border also raises concerns about the war potentially spilling beyond Ukraine's territory, since the area hosts important crossings used by refugees as well as for cargo and weapons deliveries. This development is prompting Poland and other NATO members to heighten vigilance in border regions.