DISINFO: Russia targets Ukrainian rail infrastructure used for military deliveries from Europe
SUMMARY
Russian forces continue to strike railway infrastructure in the west of Ukraine, used to transport military supplies from Europe.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets that denies Russia’s war crimes, particularly by claiming that Russia never targets civilian infrastructure. The claim was made in the context of a drone attack on a passenger train near the Ukraine-Poland border on 13 September 2026.
A Russian drone struck the locomotive of a passenger train at Yahodyn station near the Ukraine-Poland border shortly after a diplomatic train carrying senior European officials, including former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and top European security officials passed through the area on 13 September 2026, Ukrainian national railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia said. It also reported that Russia had attacked Ukrainian railway infrastructure for the second consecutive day.
According to Ukrzaliznytsia, “it is quite likely that the diplomatic train may also have been the target of the Russian drone. The train departed from the station earlier than scheduled as part of real-time adjustments to train timetables due to the ongoing threat of Russian strikes. Ukrzaliznytsia continuously adjusts train schedules depending on which routes remain available and which are blocked as a result of attacks.”
There was no evidence that the train at Yahodyn was carrying military supplies. Russia routinely alleges that railway infrastructure in western Ukraine is a legitimate military target. Moscow claims it is used to transport foreign weapons and military supplies. Russia has repeatedly used similar justifications for strikes that have damaged or destroyed civilian railway infrastructure and caused civilian casualties. Numerous Russian attacks on railway stations, trains and other civilian infrastructure have been documented (see here and here).
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