German minister: Drone attack on train is a calculated escalation by Putin

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius reacted on Monday to the drone attack on a train near the Ukraine–Poland border. He said the attack is a calculated escalation by Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed at sowing fear in Europe.

“It is all the more important that we remain level-headed, not allow ourselves to be provoked, but at the same time leave no doubt that we are capable of defending ourselves and will not back down if the situation escalates,” Pistorius told journalists in the northeastern German town of Wolgast.

Pistorius stressed that what Vladimir Putin is doing is dangerous.

“He knows this, and that is why he is doing it,” he added.

A Russian drone struck a passenger train at the Ukraine–Poland border on Sunday, shortly after former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other European diplomats had used the same line.

There were no casualties in the incident, as passengers had been evacuated in time immediately after the threat was detected. The drone struck the train’s locomotive, causing material damage.

Boris Johnson was leaving Kyiv, where he had attended an international conference. Also traveling on the same railway route were senior European security officials, including British National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell, as well as an adviser to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Johnson reacted harshly after the attack, questioning the reason for the strike on the train near the Polish border.

“When will we give them the air defense they need?” he said.