Boris Johnson criticises Putin after drone strike near passenger train
Boris Johnson has hit out at Vladimir Putin after a Russian drone targeted the railway line he was travelling on, reports BritPanorama.
The former prime minister was alerted at 5am on Sunday as he returned from a security conference in Kyiv after another passenger train behind his was forced to evacuate near Yagodyn, close to the Polish border.
In a post on X, Mr Johnson wrote: “I don’t know what warped logic drove Putin to blow up a stationary Ukrainian locomotive on the Polish border this morning.”
It is understood Mr Johnson was not evacuated or delayed by the incident, as sources indicated that none of the “VIP” trains carrying European officials were involved in the attack.
An ordinary passenger train was evacuated, likely due to a gas station hit near the train. Another locomotive carriage sitting in the sidings was also struck but was not moving or part of a service.
Ukrainian Railways service Ukrzaliznytsia reported that a train in Volyn, merely a mile from the Polish border, was hit, but no casualties were reported.
Mr Johnson continued: “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.”
He added, “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.”
Mr Johnson emphasised, “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.”
Throughout Russia’s military aggression that escalated in February 2022, Mr Johnson has been a staunch ally of Ukraine. During his premiership, he was among the first world leaders to offer both humanitarian and military support to the country.
Since leaving office, he has consistently voiced his support for Ukraine in its struggle against Vladimir Putin.
The attack on the passenger train was part of a series of strikes targeting border areas, with a Polish border guard spokesperson confirming that a Russian drone struck near Yahodyn, overnight, less than a mile from the Polish border.
Ukraine relies on multiple border crossings with Poland, which serve as critical points for military and humanitarian aid transported from allies.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned Moscow’s “barbaric strikes” on the Ukrainian-Polish border, marking the latest in a series of attacks near NATO territory.
“Russia’s barbaric strikes at the Ukraine-Poland border in Yahodyn are not just a continuation of its attacks on our state borders,” Mr Sybiha stated on X.
“This is Putin’s terror ‘knocking’ directly on the doors of the EU and NATO. Russian barbarians are at your gate, dear partners.”
In response, Russia’s defence ministry claimed it targeted infrastructure that facilitates military cargoes transported from Europe into Western Ukraine. Ukraine relies heavily on trade and arms shipments crossing the borders from Poland, Romania, and Moldova.
In recent weeks, Russia has intensified its targeting of Ukraine’s border crossings with its Western allies, part of a broader strategy by both nations to undermine each other’s economic infrastructure as the conflict drags on.
