The Russian strike near Yagodyn may have been directed against European targets, according to the ISW
The Russian military’s strike on the area around the “Yagodin–Dorohusk” international border crossing on the Ukrainian-Polish border may have been a high-precision attack targeting current and former European government officials who were leaving Ukraine.
On September 13, Russian forces launched a drone strike on a passenger train leaving Ukraine, as well as on the infrastructure at the “Yagodin” border crossing.
This occurred just as European officials were crossing the Ukrainian-Polish border.
Analysts noted a statement by Lieutenant Colonel Jacek Goryshevsky, a spokesperson for the Polish Armed Forces’ Operational Command, who on September 13 described the Russian threat as “real and imminent.”
At the same time, the Russian Ministry of Defense acknowledged that same day that Russian troops had attacked railway infrastructure in western Ukraine, which, according to the Russian side, is used to transport military cargo from Europe to Ukraine.
The ISW emphasizes that the damaged passenger train, which was leaving Ukraine, was apparently not transporting military cargo to Ukraine.
Analysts note that Western officials regularly use the rail link between Poland and Ukraine to travel to Kyiv following the closure of Ukrainian airspace due to Russia’s full-scale invasion.
According to the ISW, the body of available evidence suggests that the strike was not accidental.
“Available reports strongly support the conclusion that the Kremlin carried out a precision drone strike aimed at wounding or killing current and former European government officials as they were leaving Ukraine,” the analysts conclude.
For the second day in a row, Russia attacked Ukrainian railway infrastructure. As a result of strikes on tracks, trains, and infrastructure facilities, a number of train services had to be limited or rerouted.
At the same time, Ukrainian and Polish authorities continue to ensure the operation of the “Yagodin–Dorohusk” border crossing, particularly after the air threat has subsided.
This is the conclusion reached by analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga responded to the Russian attack near the “Yagodin” border crossing on the Ukrainian-Polish border and called on Western partners to take immediate action. According to him, Russian terror is effectively approaching the borders of the European Union and NATO.
On the night of September 13, Russian troops attacked the area around the “Yagodin–Dorohusk” international border crossing on the Ukrainian-Polish border. A gas station was damaged by falling debris near the border.
No hits were recorded at the “Yagodin” border crossing on the Ukrainian-Polish border during Russia’s nighttime airstrike.
The “Starokozache–Tudora” border crossing on the border with Moldova has resumed operations following a nighttime attack by Russian drones. Currently, vehicle clearance is proceeding as usual in both directions.
All border crossing points along Ukraine’s state border are currently operating as usual, including those that had previously been targeted by Russian attacks.
