Boris Johnson hits out at 'senseless' Putin after train narrowly avoids Russian strikes

Boris Johnson has hit out at Vladimir Putin and praised heroic Ukrainians after boarding a train near Russian strikes on the Ukrainian border.

GB News understands the former British Prime Minister was in the region but was neither affected nor evacuated by the attack.

Mr Johnson has brushed off the incident, reassuring GB News he’s feeling "superb".

The Russian drone attack struck Yahodyn-Dorohusk, one of the most important border crossings on the Ukraine-Polish border, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha announced on Sunday.

Writing on social media, Mr Johnson said: "I don’t know what warped logic drove Putin to blow up a stationary Ukrainian locomotive on the Polish border this morning. What we can say for sure is that this is the kind of random and senseless attack Ukrainians are enduring every day - even on civilian railways.

"So far Putin has been responsible for the deaths of 1700 staff of Ukrzaliznytsia - Ukrainian Railways. They and their daily passengers are absolutely heroic.

"When are we going to give them the air defences they need? Why won’t we unfreeze Putin’s cash and give it to Ukraine? There is more than €140 billion in a Belgian bank account - and about £10 billion in London. Britain could show a lead.

"The Ukrainians are going to win - that much was clear from the last three days in their wonderful country. But we will get this dreadful war over much faster if we all get serious and give them what they need and deserve."

The former British Prime Minister was travelling back towards Poland after attending a major security conference in Kyiv.

There were no immediate reports of casualties.

The Polish military confirmed the attack.

The attack continues a new Russian offensive strategy of repeatedly targeting Ukrainian border crossings to the west.

Although these crossings are far from the front lines, they are considered crucial to Ukraine's economic survival.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, wrote on X: "Russia’s barbaric strikes at the Ukraine-Poland border in Yahodyn are not just a continuation of its attacks on our state borders. This is Putin’s terror 'knocking' directly on the doors of the EU and NATO.

"Russian barbarians are at your gate, dear partners. Act now: throw the full weight of your sanctions at Putin’s aggressive regime. Make Moscow feel the consequences of its terror. Not just half-decisions, but uncompromising, powerful steps. Full trade embargo. Full entry bans. Full sanctions on the military-industrial complex.

"Putin needs to understand that his barbarism will be met with decisive action that increases the cost of war for him to an unacceptable level. This is the only way to stop him."

Deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure are considered war crimes under international law.

Moscow has long been launching strikes against Ukrainian power plants and warehouses.

In August, during his visit to the Eastern European country as Prime Minister, Andy Burnham said: "On Ukraine’s 35th anniversary of independence, the Ukrainian people should be in no doubt: the UK is behind you today and for as long as it takes.

"I am proud of the contribution our country has made to Ukraine and I want the Ukrainian people to hear it directly from me that our support will not waver. After all, Ukraine's security is our security."

The Prime Minister added: "The friendship between our two countries will long outlast Russia’s illegal war. In both the fight and in the rebuilding to come, we will stand with Ukraine and deliver opportunities for people across both our countries.

"Russia should be in no doubt of our resolve. We will not back down until there is a just and lasting peace."

Last Sunday, Donald Trump's chief negotiator Steve Witkoff pressed Volodymyr Zelensky to reach "compromises" with Vladimir Putin during a visit to the Ukrainian capital aimed at reviving stalled peace efforts.

The former real estate developer, now Mr Trump's most trusted diplomatic envoy, said the American side had arrived with "important cogent ideas" to resolve the conflict.

Mr Zelensky received Mr Witkoff and Jared Kushner at Sophia Square, situated before Kyiv's iconic Saint Sophia Cathedral and directly across from Ukraine's intelligence headquarters - a building struck by a Russian drone just two days prior.

The Kyiv meeting followed Mr Witkoff's Saturday session with Putin at the Kremlin, where he told the Russian president: "We were all talking about when we retire, we'll have all these incredible stories and incredible memories, and yours will be right at the top of it all."

Speaking at a press conference following the formal discussions, Mr Zelensky categorically refused to surrender the Donbas region - a key Russian demand that Moscow has been unable to achieve militarily.

The Ukrainian leader said: "The question of the Donbas is not just a question of the Donbas. I believe it is the question of the entire war - a war of survival and attrition."

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