Following the Russian strike on a passenger train near the border with Poland, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated that the Kremlin would not be able to undermine the unity of the allies or hinder their support for Ukraine. He said the response would be to step up assistance to Kyiv for its self-defence. The attack struck the locomotive of the «Kyiv–Warsaw» service; neither passengers nor railway staff were injured.
Briefly about the main points
- Rutte described the attack on the train as a sign of the Kremlin’s desperation.
- NATO intends to step up its support for Ukraine’s self-defence.
- The locomotive on the «Kyiv–Warsaw» service was hit near Yagodyn.
- The evacuation following the discovery of the threat ensured the safety of passengers and railway staff.
- The NATO Secretary-General has reaffirmed the Alliance’s commitment to defending its entire territory.
Rutte described the Kremlin’s objective as a miscalculation
Rutte spoke at a press conference at the headquarters on 14 September NATO. He said that Russia is facing difficulties in Ukraine, yet continues to carry out aggressive, reckless and dangerous attacks, particularly near Alliance territory.
According to the General Secretary, collision with a passenger train This demonstrated just how desperate Vladimir Putin’s actions have become. Rutte believes that the Kremlin is attempting to undermine continued support for Ukraine and weaken the unity of the allies, but this strategy will not succeed.
«Our response is to step up our support for Ukraine so that it has everything it needs for self-defence,» he emphasised.
A collision near Yagodyn damaged a locomotive and nearby structures
On the night of 13 September, Russia launched a massive attack on western Ukraine. In the vicinity of the «Yagodin»A locomotive on the «Kyiv–Warsaw» passenger train was struck near the Polish border.".
The strike occurred at around five o’clock in the morning, two kilometres from the border. A Ukrzaliznytsia dispatcher spotted the threat in good time, after which an evacuation was ordered. As a result, none of the passengers or railway staff were injured.
The attack also damaged a petrol station, lorries and a supermarket. Two drivers sustained minor injuries.
The NATO Secretary-General reiterated the Alliance’s defence guarantees
Rutte stated that NATO’s collective defence commitments remain unshakeable and that protection extends to every part of the Alliance’s territory.
The press conference took place alongside the Prime Minister of Slovenia Janez Janša. The Secretary-General thanked the country for its contribution to NATO, its work in the Western Balkans and its support for Ukraine. He said that in 2025, Slovenia had provided Ukraine with over 60 million euros in security assistance and had joined the PURL initiative.
