Russian drone strikes Kyiv–Warsaw passenger train near Polish border
On the morning of September 13, a Russian drone struck the locomotive of an international passenger train near the Yahodyn border crossing in Volyn Oblast, about two kilometers from the Polish border. A separate drone hit a truck and set a nearby gas station on fire. No passengers or crew were injured.
Key points
- Russian drone hit the locomotive of a Kyiv–Warsaw passenger train on the morning of September 13
- Strike occurred in Volyn Oblast, approximately two kilometers from the Polish border, near the Yahodyn–Dorohusk crossing
- A monitoring group warned the train crew in advance; no passengers or railway workers were injured
- A separate drone struck about 800 meters from the border, igniting a gas station and parked trucks; two drivers were reportedly injured
- Ukrzaliznytsia said this was the second consecutive day of Russian attacks on Ukrainian railways
- Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha called the attack "terror" that directly concerns the EU and NATO
- Crossing operations at Yahodyn were temporarily suspended for safety; the checkpoint itself was not directly hit, according to the Ukrainian Border Guard spokesperson
Why it matters
The strike on a Kyiv–Warsaw passenger train less than two kilometers from Poland, an EU and NATO member, is the most direct physical signal yet that Russian aerial warfare is reaching the borders of the Western alliance. Ukrzaliznytsia says it was the second day running of Russian strikes on the rail network, and the foreign minister framed the incident as terrorism aimed at Europe — making it more than a tactical attack on Ukrainian infrastructure.
What happened
On the morning of Sunday, September 13, a Russian drone struck the locomotive of an international Kyiv–Warsaw passenger train in Volyn Oblast, roughly two kilometers from the Polish border, near the Yahodyn–Dorohusk crossing. A Ukrzaliznytsia monitoring group warned the crew in advance, and no passengers or railway workers were injured. Separately, during the night of September 12–13, another drone struck about 800 meters from the border, hitting a truck and setting a gas station and several parked trucks on fire; two drivers were reportedly injured. Crossing operations at Yahodyn were temporarily halted for safety, though the Ukrainian Border Guard spokesperson Andriy Demchenko said the checkpoint itself was not directly hit. Ukrzaliznytsia head Oleksandr Pertsovskyi said Russian forces had been attacking the railway continuously for more than a day, hitting depots, stations, and rolling stock. Polish Interior Ministry spokesperson Karolina Galecka said no one was injured on the Polish side, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk had earlier said Polish and Ukrainian services jointly prevented a direct threat to a border crossing during the night of September 10.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian sources foregrounded the strike on an international Kyiv–Warsaw passenger train and framed it as part of a sustained Russian campaign against Ukrainian railway infrastructure. Ukrzaliznytsia's leadership described more than 24 hours of continuous attacks on depots, stations, and rolling stock. Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha called the incident terror by Vladimir Putin directly concerning the EU and NATO, and urged partners to impose a full trade embargo, full entry ban, and full sanctions on Russia's military-industrial complex. Ukrainian outlets emphasized that border operations were suspended and a gas station was damaged by falling debris, but stressed — via Border Guard spokesperson Andriy Demchenko — that there were no direct hits on the checkpoint itself.
How international sources describe it
German-language coverage (Der Spiegel) highlighted Yahodyn as a key Ukraine–Poland transport link and emphasized the strike on that connection. International reporting also focused on the presence of high-profile Western passengers on the route: Günter Sautter, foreign and security policy adviser to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, both of whom were evacuated because of the strikes. The Polish military confirmed the attack on X, and the Polish Border Guard's spokesperson Major Dariusz Sienicki confirmed the truck strike near Yahodyn–Dorohusk to Interia.
Where reporting differs
Sources differ on how close the strikes came to the border itself. One account places the truck strike about 800 meters from the Polish border, while the main train strike is described as about two kilometers away. There is also conflicting reporting on whether the Yahodyn checkpoint was directly hit: Polish Border Guard sources reported a drone hit a truck near the crossing, while Ukrainian Border Guard spokesperson Andriy Demchenko said there were no direct hits on the checkpoint itself.
Background
The Yahodyn–Dorohusk crossing is a major international road checkpoint between Ukraine and Poland. A day before the train strike, on September 12, a drone that transited Ukrainian and Moldovan airspace crashed in Suceava County, Romania; Moldovan President Maia Sandu said Russian aggression is moving westward. Among those traveling on a chartered train on the route the night of the attack were Günter Sautter, adviser to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who were evacuated due to the strikes. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk had earlier stated that Polish and Ukrainian services jointly prevented a direct threat to one of the border crossings on the night of September 10.