A Russian drone has struck a train near the Ukraine-Poland border, just moments after former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and several high-ranking European officials passed through the area. The incident occurred in Yahodyn, a border station, and thankfully, no casualties were reported. The strike is part of a worrying trend as Russia intensifies its attacks on Ukraine’s railway infrastructure, which serves as a crucial lifeline for millions of Ukrainians.
Reports state that the train carrying Johnson and others had departed on a different line shortly before the drone hit. In a statement, Ukraine’s state railway company, Ukrzaliznytsia, confirmed that an evacuation order was issued for passengers on the affected train just 15 minutes after the strike. On board one of the trains, passengers received a message to prepare for evacuation after a brief halt, but they were later informed it was safe to continue their journey.
Boris Johnson, who took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), expressed his outrage over the incident, highlighting the random and senseless nature of such attacks on civilian railways. He called for urgent support for Ukraine, advocating for enhanced air defenses to protect against these barbaric strikes. Johnson emphasized that Russian President Vladimir Putin must understand that his actions will face serious repercussions, raising the stakes of the conflict to an unacceptable level.
This drone strike is a clear escalation in Russia’s approach, with a noticeable shift towards targeting key infrastructure like trains, railway depots, gas stations, and border crossings. Just earlier this week, two individuals lost their lives when Russian drones targeted a border crossing between Ukraine and Moldova, as noted by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Additionally, a female conductor was killed in a separate drone attack on a passenger train in southern Ukraine.
The ongoing war has already claimed the lives of six Ukrzaliznytsia employees following a depot strike in Kyiv earlier this month. Zelensky condemned these acts of aggression as terrorism, pointing out how vital the railway network is for Ukrainians amid the suspension of all air travel due to the ongoing conflict. The situation is dire, with reports of new jet-powered drones being launched daily, surpassing Ukraine’s air defenses.
As Ukraine continues to face these relentless attacks, one can’t help but wonder: how will the international community respond to the escalating violence? The coming weeks will be crucial in determining the future of this conflict, as Europe braces for a harsh winter while keeping pressure on Putin.
Kaynak: Orijinal Haber