Poland Investigates Ukrainians Allegedly linked to Russia in Railway Sabotage
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on Tuesday that two Ukrainian citizens are suspected of intentionally damaging a railway line near Warsaw over the weekend, allegedly acting on behalf of Russian intelligence. The incident occurred near the village of Mika, approximately 100 kilometers (60 miles) southeast of Warsaw, impacting the Warsaw-Lublin line which connects Poland’s capital to the Ukrainian border.
According to tusk, the suspects have been “operating and cooperating wiht Russian services for a long time.” While their identities are currently withheld pending further investigation, authorities revealed one suspect was previously convicted in May by a court in Lviv, Ukraine, for “acts of sabotage.” The other is believed to be a resident of Donbas, a region of Ukraine currently occupied by Russia.
Investigators believe the pair entered Poland from Belarus this autumn and later left polish territory for Belarus following the sabotage. The explosion on Saturday damaged the tracks, perhaps endangering a train traveling to ukraine, a close ally of Poland.
A separate incident is also under investigation: the destruction of power lines near Pulawy,about 50 kilometers (30 miles) from Lublin. This disruption forced passenger trains to halt service.
polish prosecutors have launched an investigation into ”acts of sabotage of a terrorist nature” targeting railway infrastructure and allegedly committed to benefit foreign intelligence. They stated the actions created “an immediate danger of a land traffic disaster, threatening the lives and health of many people and property on a large scale.”
Repairs have been completed at both locations, and no injuries have been reported. To date, 55 individuals have been detained and 23 arrested in Poland concerning acts of sabotage.
The Kremlin responded to Tusk’s accusations with a statement from spokesman Dmitry Peskov, accusing Polish authorities of “Russophobia” and claiming Russia is being blamed for all forms of conflict.
These incidents are part of a broader pattern of arson, sabotage, and cyberattacks experienced in Poland and other European countries since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Poland has previously taken steps to limit Russian diplomatic presence within its borders, including restricting movement and closing consulates.
