Russian drones attack train near Polish border; Johnson urges freezing and seizing Russian assets

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk convened an emergency meeting on September 14 with ministers, military officials, and intelligence chiefs, following a Russian drone strike on a passenger train in Ukraine near the Polish border.

Poland's government spokesperson Adam Szczepański stated that the emergency session focused on assessing Poland’s security situation.

Tusk warned on Sunday, September 13, that the escalation of the situation in Russia was “becoming reality,” and that conflict could ultimately spill over into Polish territory.

"In the coming weeks and months, Russian military operations will be extremely intense. Regrettably, we cannot rule out the possibility that the conflict may also affect our own territory."

He added that Poland and its NATO allies must be prepared to respond jointly if necessary.

Russian Attack on Train Near Polish Border

On September 13, Russian forces targeted the Yagotyn railway station in Ukraine’s Volyn Oblast, located just several kilometers from the Polish border.

A drone struck the locomotive of a passenger train traveling from Kyiv to Warsaw; Russian forces simultaneously attacked a nearby gas station.

This railway line is a key route for foreign officials traveling to Kyiv. Since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, numerous world leaders have used this route.

At the time of the attack, Poland scrambled fighter jets into the air; Ukrainian authorities issued safety alerts to residents in border areas.

The Ukrainian National Railways stated that the train was likely deliberately targeted. The diplomatic special train reportedly departed the station earlier than scheduled.

According to reports, the train carried national security advisors from several EU countries, including Germany, as well as former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

At the time of the attack, former CIA Director David Petraeus was aboard another train at the Yagotyn station.

Central monitoring team dispatchers detected a jet-powered drone and issued passenger evacuation orders about 15 minutes before the attack occurred.

Johnson Calls for Seizing Russian Assets

Johnson condemned the attack and reiterated his call for transferring frozen Russian assets held by the EU and the UK to Ukraine.

"I cannot fathom the twisted logic behind Putin bombing a stationary Ukrainian locomotive on the Polish border this morning."

He said Ukrainian civilians face such "senseless random attacks" every day and urged increased deliveries of air defense systems to Ukraine.

At this moment, Poland remains highly vigilant against the potential spread of the war to its own border. Russian strikes and drone incursions continue to test NATO’s eastern flank.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1876288519852044/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.