Boris Johnson breaks silence after ‘warped’ Putin drone strike on train crossing Ukraine border

Boris Johnson has spoken out after a Russian drone strike narrowly missed a train he was riding across the Ukrainian border.

A rocket attack struck the train just minutes behind the former prime minister who was travelling back from a security conference in Kyiv.

Johnson was travelling with an EU delegation and was caught up in the evacuation, according to German outlet Der Spiegel.

He is reportedly unharmed in the strike, which saw ‘swarms of Shaheds in the sky’ on Saturday night.

The former prime minister said on X on Sunday: ‘I don’t know what warped logic drove Putin to blow up a stationary Ukrainian locomotive on the Polish border this morning.

‘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.’

Calling for more resources for Ukraine, he added: ‘When are we going to give them the air defenses 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.

‘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 strike shows people fleeing across the tracks after being given a warning of the strike.

The trains crossing between Poland and Ukraine have been targeted by Russia in recent days.

The trains are mostly used by civilians, including women and children, as men of fighting age aren’t allowed to leave the country without a rare military exemption.

Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said a Russian drone had struck 800m from the Polish border as he called an emergency meeting of advisors amid fears the conflict could escalate.

Carl Bildt, co-chair European Council on foreign relations, said: ‘This wasn’t our train, but the one just minutes after us by the border crossing.

‘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 against are intensifying.’

Oleksandr Pertsovskyi, chief operating officer of the post office, said there were no casualties after the strikes, which were in the vicinity of the Polish border.

He posted on X: ‘The enemy is attacking the railway again. As of now, there are hits in Lutsk and Fastiv.

‘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.’

This is a breaking news story… More to follow…