Ukrzaliznytsia: Russian drone strike near Polish border may have targeted diplomatic train
Ukraine's railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia says a Russian drone attack that hit a locomotive near the Polish border may actually have been aimed at a diplomatic train that departed earlier than scheduled. The train was carrying EU security advisers and former European leaders, including former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Ukraine's national railway company Ukrzaliznytsia has said that a Russian drone strike which damaged a locomotive near the Ukraine-Poland border may have actually been targeting a diplomatic train rather than the train it hit. The report comes from Yevropeiska Pravda, citing a statement Ukrzaliznytsia posted on Telegram.
Railway officials said that shortly before the locomotive was struck at Yahodyn station near the border, a diplomatic train had been at that same station. On board were security advisers from several European Union member states and former European leaders, including former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. A separate train present at Yahodyn station at the exact moment of the attack was carrying former CIA director David Petraeus.
Attack details
A jet-powered mesh drone that struck the locomotive was spotted by a dispatcher from the Central Monitoring Group, and the evacuation signal for the train was issued only about 15 minutes before impact. Ukrzaliznytsia stated it is entirely plausible that the drone's actual target was the diplomatic train, which had left the station earlier than originally scheduled as part of real-time adjustments to train timetables made necessary by the constant threat of Russian strikes. The company noted it continuously revises schedules depending on which routes remain open and which are blocked due to strikes.
Background
Günther Sautter, one of the closest advisers to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, along with security advisers from other European countries and Boris Johnson, had been on a train that was due to be evacuated near the Polish border because of the attack on the other Ukrainian train. Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt said passengers received an evacuation warning that was later cancelled, allowing the train to continue its journey. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said the Russian attack complicated his delegation's crossing of the Ukraine-Poland border.
