France has accused Russia of trying to intimidate and divide European countries supporting Ukraine after a drone strike near a train carrying European officials raised fresh concerns over the security of Western visitors to the country.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Monday that the attack appeared aimed at discouraging European governments from maintaining their political and economic support for Kyiv.

“These attacks have a very clear objective: to intimidate Europeans, discourage them and, above all, divide them,” Barrot told reporters on the sidelines of the European Arctic Summit in Finland.

Barrot noted that the incident occurred as Ukraine was hosting a major economic support forum attended by business leaders, diplomats and other officials from Europe and around the world.

The incident took place Sunday near Yahodyn, close to Ukraine’s border with Poland, when a drone struck the locomotive of a passenger train traveling toward Poland. No passengers were reported killed or injured.

The attack drew particular attention because a privately chartered train carrying former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and several European officials had passed through the area shortly beforehand.

The European delegation’s train was reportedly evacuated following a nearby drone warning. The passengers were later allowed to continue their journey after authorities determined that the immediate danger had passed.

Ukrainian railway authorities suggested that the train carrying the European officials may have been the intended target. However, there has been no independent confirmation that the drone was deliberately aimed at the delegation.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also condemned the incident, saying it appeared intended to frighten Western governments and discourage their officials from traveling to Ukraine.

“It is clearly meant to scare Western countries from supporting Ukraine, from going to Ukraine to show support,” Kallas told reporters at the summit.

The incident has heightened security concerns in Poland, particularly because the strike occurred close to NATO territory. Polish authorities have since moved to strengthen security measures along the country’s border with Ukraine.

The episode comes amid an intensifying campaign of Russian missile and drone strikes across Ukraine, alongside increasingly frequent Ukrainian attacks against targets inside Russia.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, when asked about the incident, said Russia’s military would continue carrying out its operations across Ukraine.

“If I understand correctly, then we are talking about the territory of Ukraine. Our military is carrying out tasks throughout Ukraine and will continue to do so,” Peskov said.

Moscow has repeatedly said its strikes are directed at military and strategic infrastructure and has not acknowledged that the train carrying European officials was deliberately targeted.

The incident has nevertheless added to growing European concerns that the war is increasingly approaching NATO territory. European governments have repeatedly warned that Russian drone and missile activity near their borders could increase the risk of a broader confrontation.

For Ukraine’s European supporters, the episode also highlights the risks faced by foreign officials, diplomats and business representatives traveling to the country. Kyiv, meanwhile, has used the incident to reinforce its calls for continued Western political, economic and military support.

The incident comes at a sensitive moment for European diplomacy, as governments seek to maintain pressure on Moscow while continuing to support Ukraine’s economy and defense capabilities. (ILKHA)