Last week Russia struck Ukraine’s railway infrastructure near the Polish border. Travelling to Ukraine has obviously never been completely safe during the years of the full-scale invasion. But the latest attacks suggest that Russia is increasingly targeting trains and related infrastructure farther west, including routes that are critical for Ukraine’s connections with Europe.
In this edition:
Russian Strikes Aim to Undermine Ukraine’s Internal and International Connectivity;
Ukraine Is Developing Its National Air-Defence School;
Missile Production and the “Valley of Death”;
and 10+ additional developments in Ukraine and Russia.
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Russian Strikes Aim to Undermine Ukraine’s Internal and International Connectivity
The Kyiv–Warsaw railway route became one of the most popular ways to travel to and from Ukraine. Many who have visited Ukraine during the years of the full-scale invasion likely used this route. Last week, it came under attack by Russian jet-powered drones.
On September 13, Russian attack drones struck the Yahodyn international border crossing, the largest crossing on the Polish border by throughput capacity. A train travelling from Kyiv to Warsaw was also hit.
According to Der Spiegel, a special train carrying European politicians and officials had been at the station shortly before the strike. Among them were Günter Sautter, an adviser to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. At the time of the attack, another train carrying former CIA Director David Petraeus was reportedly in the area.
The railway company said it was “entirely possible” that the diplomatic train had been the intended target. The train had departed the station earlier than originally scheduled because timetables had been adjusted amid the continuing threat of Russian strikes.
Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railway) said its Central Monitoring Group detected the approaching drone and ordered passengers to evacuate approximately 15 minutes before the locomotive was hit.
In April, it was reported that Ukrzaliznytsia’s dispatch service had gained access to military airspace-monitoring systems and was continuously tracking the threat posed by Russian attack drones.
According to Serhii FLASH Beskrestnov, an adviser to the president, passengers are evacuated from trains when there is a direct threat to their lives. When the risk is less immediate, authorities can use other measures, including adjusting train schedules.
Beskrestnov also warned that a drone strike on a passenger carriage could have catastrophic consequences and advised passengers, when evacuation is ordered, to move at least 100 metres away from the train.
After leaving the train, passengers are advised not to gather in groups nearby, as the train itself may remain a potential target. Instead, they should disperse while keeping the conductor in a high-visibility vest within sight. If there are nearby explosions, passengers should immediately lie face down on the ground with their mouths open.
There have also been cases in which manually controlled Russian drones changed targets during flight after spotting moving trains.
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Russian attacks on Ukrainian Railways infrastructure have increased significantly. Nearly 1,200 attacks were recorded last year alone — more than in 2023 and 2024 combined.
In recent days, Russian forces have also significantly intensified attacks on fuel stations, including in Kyiv and along major international highways.
On September 10–11, Russian forces carried out their first large-scale attacks on gas stations in Kyiv. At least three facilities were destroyed or damaged by jet-powered drones. Three people were killed in the attacks, while at least nine others were injured.
Previously, fuel stations in frontline regions had been the main targets. The strikes have now expanded to central and northern Ukraine, including Zhytomyr, Poltava, Chernihiv, and Kyiv regions.
The Ukrainian government is preparing a package of measures to strengthen fuel station security. These include automatic alerts warning operators about approaching Russian drones, additional protection for above-ground infrastructure, the construction of shelters, and simplified customs procedures for fuel tanker trucks.
One measure being tested is software that tracks the direction of incoming drones and provides early warnings. The system would automatically alert fuel stations when Russian drones are approaching, giving personnel additional time to respond to the threat. If testing at fuel stations proves successful, the system is expected to be expanded to other businesses and facilities.
As of August, Russia was producing around 3,000 jet-powered Geran-4/5 drones per month, already exceeding monthly production of the conventional gasoline-powered Geran-2, estimated at around 2,800 units.
Check out some of my recent drone-related reports:
and the weekly Ukraine Drone Brief.
Ukraine Is Developing Its National Air-Defence School
Ukraine already has at least two domestically developed air-defence systems that were showcased at the MSPO international defence exhibition in Poland, while another system is being developed at an accelerated pace.