A Russian drone struck the locomotive of a passenger train on Sunday just two kilometres from the Polish border, according to Ukraine's state-owned railway company Ukrzaliznytsia. The incident occurred in the Volyn region, and no casualties have been reported.
"For the second day in a row, the enemy has been attacking the railways. Today in the Volyn region, two km from the border with Poland, the enemy struck the locomotive of a passenger train," the company said on Telegram. The crew received an early warning from the railway's aerial threat monitoring team, allowing them to take protective measures for passengers and staff before the strike.
"We are continuing to monitor aerial threats, ensure the smooth running of trains and take every possible measure to ensure the safety of passengers and railway staff," Ukrzaliznytsia added.
Massive overnight drone barrage
The attack was part of a broader Russian air offensive. Ukraine's Air Force reported that Moscow launched more than 450 drones overnight, including jet-propelled drones and Banderol missile drones. The strikes killed at least three people and injured 36 others across the country.
Western regions bordering Poland were also hit. The scale of the assault forced temporary restrictions at Polish–Ukrainian border crossings. Major Dariusz Sienicki, a spokesperson for Poland's Border Guard, told the PAP news agency that checks were suspended overnight for safety reasons. Traffic has since returned to normal at Dorohusk, Zosin, and Dołhobyczów, with Hrebenne expected to resume processing shortly.
The Border Guard reported no direct threats to Polish crossings, but Sienicki noted that Ukrainian authorities informed them of a drone strike that destroyed a lorry about 800 metres from the Jagodzin crossing.
Kyiv calls for tougher Western response
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned the strikes as "barbaric" and framed them as a direct challenge to Europe. "This is Putin's terror 'knocking' directly on the doors of the EU and NATO. Russian barbarians are at your gate, dear partners," he wrote on X, urging Western allies to impose a full trade embargo, entry bans, and comprehensive sanctions on Russia's military-industrial complex.
His appeal comes as European leaders debate how to sustain support for Ukraine. The EU recently committed €6.1 billion to Ukraine for Patriot interceptors and drones, but discussions about tapping frozen Russian assets have cooled amid legal and financial concerns.
Poland scrambles aircraft
In response to the attacks, Poland activated its air defence procedures. The Operational Command of the Armed Forces deployed F-16 fighters, helicopters, and SAAB airborne reconnaissance aircraft to secure Polish airspace. Residents of the Lublin and Podkarpackie regions received a morning alert from the Government Centre for Security, which was lifted after about five hours.
Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said Polish systems detected the early-morning attack using Geran-5 drones in western Ukraine. "One of them struck 1 km from the border with Poland, another 5 km. The Polish airspace was guarded by F16 aircraft, helicopters, and the SAAB airborne reconnaissance aircraft. There was no breach of our border," he stated.
The incident underscores the growing risk of spillover from the war into NATO territory. Analysts have warned that NATO's deterrence is eroding as Russia tests the alliance's resolve with hybrid attacks and drone incursions near its eastern flank.
For Ukraine, the railway remains a vital lifeline for both civilian travel and military logistics. The strike near the Polish border is a reminder of how close the war has come to the EU's frontier, and how quickly it could escalate.
