Polish officials are set to press charges against two Ukrainians for carrying out an explosion that caused damage to a railway track used for shipments to Ukraine, citing the incident as an act of terrorist sabotage on behalf of Russia. The suspects reportedly fled to Belarus following the attack that targeted the rail line connecting Warsaw to the Ukrainian border. Authorities claim that the two individuals had been in collaboration with Russian intelligence for an extended period.
Further individuals have been taken into custody in connection to the railway blast, although official details have not been disclosed. Prime Minister Donald Tusk characterized the explosion as an unparalleled act of sabotage, while Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski labeled it as an act of state terrorism. The explosion occurred near Mika, approximately 100 kilometers southeast of Warsaw, resulting in track damage with no reported injuries.
In a separate incident over the weekend, power lines were destroyed in Puławy, located around 50 kilometers from Lublin in eastern Poland. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed belief in a Russian connection to the sabotage, underscoring that only Russian interests would be served by such actions. Zelenskyy confirmed Ukraine’s commitment to sharing relevant information with Poland and establishing a joint task force to counter Russian sabotage.
Western officials have accused Russia and its affiliates of orchestrating numerous attacks and incidents across Europe post the Ukrainian invasion over three years ago. The alleged objective of Moscow, according to Western sources, is to erode support for Ukraine, instill fear, and sow discord within European nations. In response to the threats, the Polish government announced plans to deploy up to 10,000 troops to bolster the protection of critical infrastructure nationwide.
Sikorski announced the imminent closure of the last remaining Russian consulate operating in Poland in retaliation for the attack. Notably, two other consulates in Krakow and Poznan had been shut down in recent times, while the Russian embassy in Warsaw continues to function. In a reciprocal move, Moscow declared its decision to scale back Poland’s diplomatic and consular presence in Russia. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov expressed regret over the deteriorating relations with Poland and the diminishing avenues for consular and diplomatic engagement.