Archive · 14 Sep 2026
Russian Drone Hits Passenger Train Near Poland Border
A drone hit a passenger train in western Ukraine very close to Poland.
The train had 206 people on board, but everyone was evacuated and no one was hurt.
The train was delayed for more than six hours before continuing to Warsaw.
A different train carrying Boris Johnson and other European visitors had passed shortly before the attack.
Former CIA Director David Petraeus was also reportedly at the station during the strike.
Ukraine said the diplomatic train might have been the real target.
Russia said it was attacking railway facilities used to move military supplies from Europe.
Poland said the fighting could become a bigger danger to its territory.
Other strikes were reported near a nuclear power plant and in a Russian city.
A Russian drone struck a passenger train near Yahodyn, about 2 kilometers from Poland’s border, with no reported casualties.
The train carrying 206 passengers was evacuated, delayed for more than six hours, and later continued toward Warsaw.
A diplomatic train carrying Boris Johnson and other European figures passed shortly before the strike; former CIA Director David Petraeus was reportedly at the station during the attack.
Ukraine said the diplomatic train may have been the intended target, while Russia said it targeted railway infrastructure used to transport military supplies from Europe.
Poland warned the escalating attacks could eventually affect its territory; related strikes were reported near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and in Russia’s Nizhnekamsk.
- Who
- A Russian drone struck a passenger train; Boris Johnson, other European figures, and David Petraeus were nearby shortly before or during the incident.
- What
- The drone hit a passenger train and a nearby fuel station, while Ukraine and Russia disputed the intended target.
- When
- Sunday, September 13; related strikes were reported overnight.
- Where
- Near Yahodyn in western Ukraine, approximately 2 kilometers from Poland’s border; other incidents occurred near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and in Nizhnekamsk, Russia.
- Why
- Russia said it targeted infrastructure used to transport military cargo from Europe, while Ukraine said the diplomatic train may have been deliberately targeted.
Ukrainian and Polish accounts
Russian account
Intended target
Ukrainian and Polish accounts
Ukraine’s railway operator said the diplomatic train may have been the intended target, and President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilian and critical infrastructure.
Russian account
Russia did not identify the diplomatic train as the target and said it struck railway infrastructure used to move military cargo from European countries.
Significance of the border strikes
Ukrainian and Polish accounts
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that further Russian escalation could affect Polish territory, while Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski called the attacks an escalation.
Russian account
Russia described the operation as an attack on infrastructure supporting military shipments rather than an attack on Poland or a passenger train.
Related strikes
Ukrainian and Polish accounts
Ukraine said it had struck a refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar region; Ukrainian officials had not immediately commented on the reported strike in Nizhnekamsk.
Russian account
Russian officials accused Ukraine of striking fuel trucks near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and said Ukrainian drones hit civilian and industrial targets in Nizhnekamsk, killing at least two people.
- Passenger train
- The train carried 206 passengers and was struck near Yahodyn.
- Distance from Poland
- The passenger-train strike occurred about 2 kilometers from the Polish border.
- Casualties
- No injuries or deaths were reported on the passenger train.
- Service disruption
- The train was delayed for more than six hours before continuing toward Warsaw.
- Nearby fuel-station strike
- A second drone hit a fuel station about 2 kilometers from Poland, setting two trucks on fire.
- Diplomatic train
- Boris Johnson and other European figures had traveled on a train using the same route shortly before the strike.
- Russian casualties report
- Nizhnekamsk’s mayor reported at least two deaths and several injuries after Ukrainian drone strikes.
