Polish authorities are set to press charges against two Ukrainian individuals for engaging in terrorist-style sabotage on behalf of Russia, causing an explosion that damaged a railway used for shipments to Ukraine, prosecutors announced on Wednesday. The suspects reportedly fled to Belarus following the attack on a rail line connecting Warsaw to Ukraine. Polish officials claim that the two Ukrainians had been collaborating with Russian secret services for an extended period.
Several individuals have been apprehended in connection with the railway explosion, according to prosecutors, who did not disclose further details. Prime Minister Donald Tusk labeled the incident as an unprecedented act of sabotage, while Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski described it as an act of state terror.
The explosion occurred near Mika, approximately 100 kilometers southeast of Warsaw, causing track damage without any reported injuries. Additionally, power lines were destroyed in Puławy, around 50 kilometers from Lublin in eastern Poland, in a separate incident over the weekend.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainian authorities also suspect a Russian involvement in the sabotage. Zelenskyy emphasized that only Russians would have an interest in such actions, following his discussion with Tusk. He pledged Ukraine’s cooperation with Poland and the establishment of a joint Polish-Ukrainian task force to combat Russian sabotage.
Western officials have accused Russia and its affiliates of orchestrating numerous attacks and incidents across Europe since the invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago, with the aim of destabilizing Ukraine, instilling fear, and sowing discord in European countries.
In response to the attack, the Polish government announced plans to deploy up to 10,000 soldiers to assist the police in safeguarding critical infrastructure nationwide. Sikorski further declared the closure of the last remaining Russian consulate in Gdansk, stating that consent for its operation had been revoked. This action follows the closure of Russian consulates in Krakow and Poznan in recent years, while the Russian embassy in Warsaw remains operational.
As a reciprocal measure, Russia announced a reduction in Poland’s diplomatic and consular presence in Russia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov lamented the deteriorating relations between the two countries, expressing regret over the Polish authorities’ decision to sever consular and diplomatic ties.
