Boris Johnson argues that Russia's escalating missile attacks on Ukraine's railways, including passenger trains, are a sign of desperation rather than strength, as Vladimir Putin struggles with mounting battlefield losses and stalled territorial gains after four and a half years of war. He contends that Western allies must respond by urgently supplying Ukraine with better air defences to protect civilians and infrastructure, arguing this is the only way to convince Putin he cannot win.

Johnson cites Russian losses of over 40,000 men killed or wounded in each of July and August alone, and 1.5 million total since the war began, alongside signs of domestic strain including fuel shortages and refinery damage from Ukrainian drone strikes. He highlights that Ukraine's railway operator, Ukrzaliznytsia, has lost 1,700 employees to attacks but continues to rebuild rapidly, and points to Ukrainian firm Firepoint, maker of the Flamingo cruise missile, as evidence of Kyiv's growing capability that now needs to be matched with stronger defensive systems against Russian ballistic missiles and jet-powered Shahed drones.