Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has announced that two Ukrainian nationals, allegedly acting on behalf of Russian intelligence, are suspected of carrying out a sabotage attack on a railway line near Warsaw over the weekend. The attack, which occurred near the village of Mika, targeted the Warsaw-Lublin railway line connecting Poland’s capital to the Ukrainian border.

Details of the Railway Explosion

The explosion damaged a section of track approximately 100 kilometers southeast of Warsaw, prompting immediate concern over potential train derailments. Prime Minister Tusk described the incident as “an unprecedented act of sabotage” and stated that the attack may have been intended to destroy a train in transit.

Authorities confirmed that both suspects have reportedly left Polish territory and are believed to have crossed into Belarus shortly after the attack.

Suspects Linked to Russian Intelligence

Tusk explained that the suspects have a history of working with Russian services. “They have been operating and cooperating with Russian intelligence for a long time,” he told the Polish lower house of parliament, citing information from prosecutors and investigators.

One of the alleged perpetrators is a Ukrainian citizen who was previously convicted for acts of sabotage in Lviv in May. The other is a resident of Donbas, a Russian-occupied region of Ukraine. Both reportedly entered Poland from Belarus earlier this autumn.

Investigation and Law Enforcement Response

Polish prosecutors have launched a full investigation into the attack, categorizing it as an act of sabotage of a terrorist nature directed against critical railway infrastructure. Officials emphasized that these attacks posed a direct threat to public safety, potentially endangering both lives and property.

In addition to the railway incident in Mika, a separate act of sabotage was reported near Puławy, about 50 kilometers from Lublin, where power lines were destroyed, causing temporary disruptions to passenger trains.

According to Tusk, a total of 55 individuals have been detained and 23 arrested in connection with acts of sabotage across Poland since the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022.

Broader Context: Sabotage and Cyberattacks in Europe

These incidents are part of a broader wave of sabotage, arson, and cyberattacks targeting Poland and other European countries, coinciding with Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Analysts suggest that such attacks may be designed to destabilize key infrastructure and create uncertainty in allied nations.

Reactions from Russia

Shortly after Tusk’s announcement, the Kremlin accused Poland of promoting “Russophobia.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov criticized Polish authorities, stating, “Russia is accused of all manifestations of the hybrid and direct war that is taking place…And Russophobia, of course, is flourishing there.”

Poland has previously taken steps to restrict Russian influence on its soil, including limiting the movement of Russian diplomats and closing two Russian consulates.

Current Status

The damaged railway tracks at both Mika and Puławy have been repaired, and fortunately, no injuries were reported. Polish authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, warning that threats to infrastructure remain a high priority for national security.