Poland is set to press charges against two Ukrainians for an act of terrorist sabotage allegedly carried out on behalf of Russia, causing an explosion that damaged a railway track used for deliveries to Ukraine, according to prosecutors on Wednesday. The suspects fled Poland and crossed into Belarus after the attack on the rail line connecting Warsaw to the Ukrainian border. Polish authorities claim that the two individuals had been in collaboration with Russian secret services for an extended period.
Several individuals have been apprehended in connection with the railway explosion, as confirmed by 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 referred to it as an act of state terror.
The explosion occurred near Mika, approximately 100 kilometers southeast of Warsaw, resulting in track damage without any reported injuries. In a separate incident over the weekend, power lines were destroyed in Puławy, about 50 kilometers from Lublin in eastern Poland.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy echoed suspicions of a Russian link to the sabotage, asserting that only Russians would have an interest in such actions. He pledged to provide Poland with necessary information and announced the establishment of a Polish-Ukrainian working group to prevent Russian sabotage.
Western officials have accused Russia and its proxies of orchestrating numerous attacks and incidents across Europe since the invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago, aiming to destabilize support for Ukraine, instill fear, and sow division within European societies.
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 declared the impending closure of the last Russian consulate operating in the country as a measure in retaliation.
Moscow reciprocated by announcing a reduction in Poland’s diplomatic and consular presence in Russia. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that Moscow would scale back Poland’s representation in response to Poland’s actions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed regret over the deteriorating relations between the two countries, noting the Polish authorities’ efforts to sever consular and diplomatic ties.