Poland Links Railway Sabotage To Russia

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief

BRUSSELS/BUDAPEST/WARSAW (Worthy News) – Poland on Tuesday accused Russia of major attacks on one of its most strategic railway corridors, saying two Ukrainian men working for Russian intelligence sabotaged tracks on a vital aid route to war-torn Ukraine. They then fled to Belarus, the government announced.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told lawmakers that investigators had identified two Ukrainian citizens suspected of carrying out an explosion on Sunday near the village of Mika, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) southeast of Warsaw.

Both men were allegedly “commissioned by Russian intelligence” and had “cooperated with Russian secret services for a long time,” Tusk said.

One suspect had previously been convicted for sabotage in Lviv in western Ukraine, while the other came from the Russian-occupied Donbas region, investigators said.

Their names have not been released due to the ongoing probe.

SECOND INCIDENT REPORTED

Tusk said a second attack occurred on Monday near Pulawy, roughly 50 kilometers (30 miles) from Lublin, where power lines and a metal clamp were destroyed in what officials believe was a deliberate attempt to derail a train.

Polish authorities say both the Sunday explosion near Mika and the Monday sabotage near Pulawy appear part of a broader operation attributed to Russian intelligence, though they have so far publicly named the two Ukrainian suspects only in connection with the first blast.

Both attacks targeted the crucial Warsaw–Lublin–Ukrainian border rail corridor, widely used for humanitarian aid and logistical transfers to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion of that country began in February 2022.

“These disruptions may be the most serious national security situation Poland has faced since the beginning of the war in Ukraine,” Tusk warned.

POLAND HEIGHTENS SECURITY

Following the incidents, Poland elevated its counterterrorism alert, introducing the “Charlie” level—the third-highest threat stage—for parts of its eastern railway network.

The Defense Ministry deployed army patrols to inspect key rail lines and critical infrastructure, officials said.

Moscow denied involvement and accused Warsaw of “Russophobia,” though Polish officials say all evidence points to Russia as the orchestrator.

Authorities believe the suspects crossed into Belarus, Russia’s closest ally, after the sabotage.

NATO ALSO RESPONDS

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the military alliance was “in close contact with the Polish authorities – NATO and Poland are intensely in contact on this,” adding that NATO must await the investigation’s outcome.

The sabotage comes as Polish military leaders recently warned that Russia is operating in a ‘pre-war mode’ toward NATO, raising concerns about hybrid attacks on alliance territory.

Several European governments expressed solidarity with Warsaw and offered assistance to help protect critical infrastructure.

The targeted rail line is considered one of Ukraine’s most important supply routes, and its disruption could affect aid deliveries during the winter.

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