Key facts
- Russian drone strikes near the Polish border show Russian President Vladimir Putin's desperation, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said.
- The strikes occurred on September 13, 2026, near the Yahodyn-Dorohusk crossing in Ukraine's Volyn Oblast.
- A gas station and a passenger train were hit, with the train being 2 kilometers from the Polish border.
- Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other European officials were on a train that passed the border crossing shortly before the attack.
- Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski stated Poland is treating the incident with the utmost seriousness.
Russian drone strikes on September 13, 2026, near the Polish border were described by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte as evidence of Russian President Vladimir Putin's "desperation" and "recklessness."
Rutte, speaking at NATO headquarters in Brussels on September 14, 2026, stated that Russia's actions were aimed at sowing fear and undermining Western support for Ukraine. The strikes targeted a gas station and a passenger train in western Ukraine, with the train being just 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the Polish border.
Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other European officials were reportedly on a train that had passed through the Yahodyn-Dorohusk border crossing shortly before the attack occurred. Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski affirmed that Poland was treating the incident with the "utmost seriousness."
In France, the drone attack influenced the presidential race. Edouard Philippe, a center-right candidate, commented that the incident proves Putin believes he is not accountable for war damage. He urged Europe to remain united and firm in its response. Meanwhile, Gabriel Attal used the event to challenge far-right leader Marine Le Pen's stance on aid to Ukraine, questioning her party's proposal to "turn off the tap" for Ukrainian support.