The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has escalated to a severe level, with former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other officials narrowly escaping a Russian drone strike. While Johnson and other officials, who were on a visit to Ukraine, were travelling on a special train, Russia carried out a drone strike on a nearby railway crossing, damaging a fuel station there and setting several vehicles ablaze. Alert loco pilots immediately stopped the train and evacuated the passengers, averting a potential tragedy for everyone aboard. Notably, the train was also carrying former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt and several other European leaders alongside Boris Johnson. It has also emerged that former CIA chief David Petraeus was aboard another train in the vicinity. Local media reported that yet another train in the area was struck by several drones; however, officials said no one was injured, as they had already evacuated that train beforehand.
Following the attack, Boris Johnson described Russia’s drone strikes as senseless, urging the British government to provide Ukraine with more weapons to protect its people from Kremlin attacks. He questioned Britain on when it would provide Ukraine with the air defence systems it needs, saying that if allied nations offered adequate support, Zelensky would have a real chance of ending the war more quickly. He expressed concern that Russia’s targeting of civilian railways was wrong, forcing Ukrainian citizens to live in fear, facing such dangers every day, and made clear that no matter how many schemes Putin devises, victory would ultimately belong to Ukraine.
Amid years of continuing war between Russia and Ukraine, Ukraine has suspended air travel services, stating that this measure was taken given the possibility of drone attacks. As a result, people there have been relying on buses and trains for travel, with even foreign leaders on official visits forced to travel by train. Ukraine has now expressed concern that Moscow is targeting train services in Kyiv as well.