Boris Johnson was actual target of Russian drone strike which narrowly missed a train he was riding across the Ukrainian border

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has spoken out after a Russian drone strike hit a train near the Ukraine-Poland border shortly after the train carrying him had passed through the area. Johnson was travelling back to Poland from a security conference in Kyiv when the attack occurred early on Sunday, September 13. According to […]

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has spoken out after a Russian drone strike hit a train near the Ukraine-Poland border shortly after the train carrying him had passed through the area.

Johnson was travelling back to Poland from a security conference in Kyiv when the attack occurred early on Sunday, September 13. According to the report, an air raid warning was active while Johnson’s train was at the station. People on the platform were told to seek shelter, while passengers on board were informed that they did not need to evacuate because the train was departing.

Ukrainian Railways said a train carrying several security advisers from European countries, including Johnson and former CIA director David Petraeus, may have been among the possible targets.

“It is quite likely that the target of this Russian drone could also have been the diplomatic train, which departed from the station earlier than planned as part of the real-time review of train schedules due to the constant threat of Russian strikes,” the rail company said. Ukrainian Railways also said passengers on the train that was struck had been ordered to evacuate about 15 minutes before the attack by a Russian jet-powered drone.

Johnson said on X that he did not understand the reasoning behind the strike and used the incident to highlight the dangers faced by Ukrainian civilians and railway workers. “I don’t know what warped logic drove Putin to blow up a stationary Ukrainian locomotive on the Polish border this morning,” he wrote.

“What we can say for sure is that this is the kind of random and senseless attack Ukrainians are enduring every day – even on civilian railways. So far Putin has been responsible for the deaths of 1,700 staff of Ukrzaliznytsia – Ukrainian Railways. They and their daily passengers are absolutely heroic.” Johnson also called for increased military and financial support for Ukraine.

“When are we going to give them the air defences they need? Why won’t we unfreeze Putin’s cash and give it to Ukraine? There is more than €140 billion in a Belgian bank account – and about £10 billion in London. Britain could show a lead,” he said.

“The Ukrainians are going to win – that much was clear from the last three days in their wonderful country. But we will get this dreadful war over much faster if we all get serious and give them what they need and deserve.” Footage from the aftermath showed people fleeing across railway tracks after warnings were issued ahead of the strike.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said a Russian drone had struck about 800 metres from the Polish border and called an emergency meeting of advisers amid concerns about the proximity of the attack to Polish territory. Carl Bildt, co-chair of the European Council on Foreign Relations, said the train hit was not the one carrying his group but another that followed shortly afterwards.

“This wasn’t our train, but the one just minutes after us by the border crossing,” Bildt said. “It was evacuated as the drone approached and no one was hurt. Very good safety system. Our train just had an evacuation warning but could proceed to Dorohusk. The attacks are intensifying.”

Oleksandr Pertsovskyi, an official with Ukraine’s railway system, said there were no casualties from the strikes in the area. “The enemy is attacking the railway again. As of now, there are hits in Lutsk and Fastiv,” he said. “Passengers have been evacuated from the train in advance, and employees have been evacuated from their workplaces. All are safe.

“The attack continues, with swarms of Shaheds in the sky. We are working with maximum attention and caution. Possible changes in schedules – for the safety of everyone.” The report said there were no casualties from the strike near the border.