In the Russian drone attack on a Ukrainian passenger train, near the Polish border, there were no casualties. Yet the impact is significant. Since the beginning of the war, Ukrainians could rely on the train, which is considered one of the most reliable and relatively safest ways to travel through the country. But increasingly, trains and railway tracks are targets of Russian attacks.
"We often don't realize it, but since the start of the invasion there have been no regular passenger planes in Ukraine," says Michiel Driebergen. He is a Dutch journalist living in Ukraine who regularly takes the train. "That makes the train indispensable."
That the trains in Ukraine "just keep running" during the war is incredible according to Driebergen. "The train in Ukraine always arrives at its destination. On time and even very close to the front."
No train, no visit
The train was traveling from Kyiv to the Polish capital Warsaw. The train connection between those cities is over 800 kilometers long. Driebergen: "This train transports, for example, many women and children who fled and want to visit their husband or father, who is not allowed to leave Ukraine or is fighting in the army."
Crucial for the success of the Ukrainian train service: "Those conductors and drivers form a kind of mobilized service," says Driebergen. "They are like the army: very loyal employees who, despite all the risks, continue to work."
Just in the past weeks, passenger trains in multiple places in Ukraine were hit by Russian attacks. According to the Ukrainian railway company, moving trains have been attacked more often since the end of last year.
The increasing drone threat further raises the pressure on the staff. Driebergen: "The trains often have to be evacuated and then the staff must be alert. They can hardly sleep."
'You heard the fear in their voices'
How real the danger has become is also noticed by the Ukrainian Katerina. She leads an organization that prepares people to work in risk areas and was herself on a train near the attacked train. Twice that night, she says, passengers were evacuated as a precaution. When it happened a third time, Katerina felt it was different. "You heard the fear in the voices of the train staff."
Passengers were urged to move as far away from the train as possible. Not long after, Katerina heard the sound of drones above her, a sound she recognizes from her work. "That was the moment it became scary," she says.
Later she heard the drone strike the train carriage, hundreds of meters away. "I saw that the train was completely burned out when we later drove towards the Polish border."
Until recently, attacks like these were unthinkable according to Driebergen. "The drones were not precise enough." According to him, that changed with the arrival of the newer Russian Geran drones. "They are smaller but faster. They fly higher and have jet engines. And they are very precise."
Trains increasingly targeted
Driebergen has also experienced evacuations. "In the past two weeks I have been on the night train three times and three times I was woken up in the middle of the night by the conductor." Because drones were flying overhead, Driebergen and his fellow passengers had to wait in a field or forest.
High-ranking officials also depend on the train. Shortly before the attack, a train with European diplomats traveled the same route, including former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European diplomats. Government leaders and NATO chief Mark Rutte have also traveled by train to Kyiv in the past.
Poland reacted strongly to the attack. Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced a "very heightened state of alert" and warned that if Russia escalates further, Poland could also be hit.
Despite the increasing danger, Driebergen does not intend to stop traveling by train. "It is the only really good way to travel. As long as the railways hold out, I will continue to travel by train."
Katerina also does not stop. "Next time I will probably go via the Hungarian or Romanian border, or via Moldova."
Reporter Gert-Jan Dennekamp from the night train in Ukraine:
"Despite the attacks, the trains run, and on time. Yet several people have decided to return their tickets. They find it too dangerous. The attack near the Polish border is certainly part of an expansion of the attacks. Especially because it now also happens in western Ukraine.
You actually see a campaign by Russia with which they try to isolate Ukraine. In recent weeks we also saw attacks at border crossings with Moldova and now with Poland. This severely restricts transit, export, and import. That has major consequences for the people on the train, but it also has economic consequences."