Shortly before a Russian strike hit a locomotive at Yahodyn station near the Polish border, a diplomatic train carrying security advisers from several EU countries and former European leaders was there. Ukrzaliznytsia said it could not rule out that the diplomatic train itself may have been the intended target of the Russian jet-powered drone.
Ukrzaliznytsia reported the details.
Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was among those on board the diplomatic train.
Former CIA Director David Petraeus was in another train that was at Yahodyn station at the exact time of the attack.
According to the railway operator, the jet-powered mesh-network drone that struck the locomotive near the Ukrainian-Polish border was detected in advance by a dispatcher from the Central Monitoring Group.
An evacuation order was issued about 15 minutes before the drone hit the locomotive.
Ukrzaliznytsia said the diplomatic train had departed the station earlier than scheduled. The timetable had been adjusted in real time because of the continuing threat of Russian strikes.
“It is quite possible that this Russian drone may also have been targeting the diplomatic train,” the company said.
Ukrzaliznytsia explained that train schedules are constantly being revised in real time depending on which routes remain available and which are blocked as a result of attacks.
The company also said Russian forces continue to make repeated attempts to target civilian rolling stock.
Passengers were urged to follow railway workers’ safety instructions quickly and without delay.
