Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for President Putin, addressed inquiries from the media regarding a recent drone strike in Ukraine that nearly struck a train carrying European officials near the Polish border. Among the passengers was a former CIA chief, according to reports from Ukrzaliznytsia.
Peskov made a cynical remark, stating, “If I understand correctly, this is Ukrainian territory. Our military is carrying out its tasks across all of Ukraine and will continue to do so.” This comment came in the wake of a strike that raised significant concerns due to its proximity to diplomatic missions.
The day prior, Peskov acknowledged that Russian forces in Ukraine are targeting not only military objects but a wider array of locations.
Context
- On September 13, a special train carrying representatives from European nations and the CIA was halted near the Polish border due to a threat from a potential drone strike by Russia. Part of the train was evacuated, but after no new drone sightings were reported, operations resumed. However, during this time, a drone attacked another train—the passenger service “Kyiv – Warsaw”—on the same railway line near the Polish border, striking the locomotive without causing injuries.
- Ukrzaliznytsia later clarified the details of the Russian attack on the locomotive in Yagodyn, suggesting that the aggressor’s drone might have been targeting the diplomatic train heading towards Poland.
- Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sibiga condemned these strikes as “barbaric,” calling it “Putin’s terror knocking on the doors of the EU and NATO.”
- Poland regarded the threat as “real and close,” as Russian drones operated just a few kilometers from the border. Polish military forces scrambled F-16 fighter jets and other aircraft, although no violations of Polish airspace were recorded.
