Ex-CIA chief caught in Russian drone strike near Polish border as Kyiv suspects officials' trains were targeted

Former CIA Director David Petraeus was at Yahodyn station when a Russian drone struck the locomotive of a nearby train, minutes after a diplomatic train carrying former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other European officials had departed early and crossed safely into Poland.

Petraeus said he could hear Russian drones above his train as it passed through Ukrainian customs near the Polish border Sunday morning, shortly before he and other passengers were evacuated and a huge explosion followed. "For those who have not been under fire, this was terrifying," Petraeus said, adding, "this is the act of a truly barbaric leader trying to terrorize Ukrainian civilians."

The former CIA director said the drone struck the locomotive of the train next to his, and that "there was no military justification for what Russia did in this case."

Ukraine's state railway operator said the diplomatic train carrying former PM Johnson and national security advisers from several EU and NATO countries had departed Yahodyn station earlier than scheduled. The operator claimed their early departure was "due to the constant threat of Russian strikes."

Following the attack, Petraeus, on his 11th visit to Ukraine since the war began, reboarded his train and crossed safely into Poland, saying he was unaware of any casualties and calling the attacks "part of a campaign to exhaust the Ukrainian population, which is not going to work."

Ukrainian Railways said it was "quite likely" the drone had deliberately targeted the officials' train, though it said it was still clarifying details. Russian drones also struck a nearby gas station in Yahodyn the same day.

Johnson condemned the attack on X, writing he didn't know "what warped logic drove Putin to blow up a stationary Ukrainian locomotive," calling it "the kind of random and senseless attack Ukrainians are enduring every day."

Russia's Defense Ministry said it was targeting "railway infrastructure facilities in western Ukraine that are used to transport military cargoes from European countries," according to TASS. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski called the strike "an escalation" and "another major challenge for Ukraine, but also for the potential future victims of Russian aggression." British Defense Minister Wes Streeting called it a "stark reminder" of daily threats facing Ukrainians and warned of the "wider security threat Russia poses."

Petraeus and the European officials had been in Kyiv attending the Yalta European Strategy security conference. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the strikes "Putin's terror 'knocking' directly on the doors of the EU and NATO."