Poland vows stronger security measures after strike near Ukraine border

Polish leaders have reaffirmed support for Ukraine after a Russian drone attack destroyed a train locomotive and a gas station near the Poland-Ukraine border, according to DW. Warsaw says it is preparing a serious but nonprovocative response while seeking coordination with European allies, as public support for aid to Kyiv has declined.

Poland’s government has pledged to strengthen border security and maintain its support for Ukraine after a Russian drone attack near the Poland-Ukraine frontier, according to DW. The attack early Sunday destroyed a gas station and the locomotive of a passenger train near the Dorohusk-Yahodyn border crossing. Passengers and crew were evacuated, and DW reported no casualties.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk met with ministers responsible for national security and senior military commanders on Monday. He said the meeting addressed additional measures to protect the country’s borders. Tusk also said Poland would consult European allies and, if necessary, pursue a coordinated response to what he described as an escalation of Russian activity.

Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski told TVN that Poland would deliver a “nonprovocative but serious response” to the escalation, including the attack on the train near the border. Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said support for Ukraine was part of Poland’s “reason of state,” arguing that Poland’s security would deteriorate if Ukraine lost the war.

DW reported that two special trains carrying participants returning from a security conference in Kyiv were near the attacked passenger train. Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, former Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin and former Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski were among those traveling on the special trains. Polish political scientist Katarzyna Piskorska said her train had been stopped and passengers evacuated before the situation was resolved.

The incident comes amid wider concern in Poland about Russian drones, alleged sabotage and changing public attitudes toward assistance for Kyiv. DW cited a mid-July survey in which 52% of respondents supported continued military aid to Ukraine and 45% opposed it, compared with substantially stronger support after Russia’s 2022 invasion. Kosiniak-Kamysz warned of growing skepticism and alleged that some forces were spreading Russian propaganda.

A separate drone was found on a Baltic beach near Jaroslawiec on Monday. DW said a preliminary investigation indicated that it was unarmed and apparently intended for reconnaissance. Kosiniak-Kamysz said Polish authorities did not know how far Russia might take the escalation, but believed Moscow was prepared to go further.