Poland reacts to Russian attacks near border and on Kyiv-Warsaw train

Russian attacks targeting railway infrastructure in western Ukraine near the Polish border have prompted an emergency response from the Polish government. A locomotive of a passenger train traveling from Kyiv to Warsaw was struck at the Yahodyn border station. While passengers were evacuated safely and no injuries were reported, the Polish railway operator PKP took over the train after a delay of more than six hours to continue its journey to Warsaw.

Polish officials expressed deep concern over the escalation. Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski stated, “Putin is escalating,” while Prime Minister Donald Tusk convened a crisis meeting with cabinet ministers and uniformed services. Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz reported that a drone struck western Ukraine one kilometer from the Polish border, and another struck five kilometers away. Polish F-16 fighter jets and reconnaissance aircraft monitored the situation, though Polish airspace was not breached.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the strikes in the Volyn region damaged a locomotive and a petrol station. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha characterized the strikes as “Putin's terror knocking directly on the doors of the EU and NATO,” calling for sharper consequences for Moscow.