Polish authorities have formally accused Russian secret services of orchestrating a major act of sabotage on a railway line crucial for transporting aid to Ukraine.
Unprecedented Act of Sabotage
Over the weekend, an explosion severely damaged a segment of the rail line connecting Warsaw, Poland's capital, to the Ukrainian border. Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the incident as an "unprecedented act of sabotage".
Jacek Dobrzyński, the spokesman for Poland's security services minister, stated that evidence clearly indicates the blast was "initiated by the Russian secret services". This assessment was confirmed following a meeting of Poland's National Security Committee.
The Investigation and Perpetrators
According to Prime Minister Tusk, the two individuals directly responsible for the attack are Ukrainian citizens who collaborated with Russian intelligence. The suspects have since left Polish territory and are now believed to be in Belarus.
A second segment of the railway, located further south, was also damaged in what officials suspect was a related act of sabotage. Both incidents occurred on the Warsaw-Lublin line.
Polish prosecutors have launched a full investigation into "acts of sabotage of a terrorist nature" committed for the benefit of a foreign intelligence service. They warned that the actions could have led to a disaster with large-scale loss of life.
Heightened Security and National Response
In response to the threat, the Polish government is implementing immediate countermeasures. Prime Minister Tusk announced the introduction of a higher, third-tier threat level for specific railway lines.
The military will now be deployed to protect key infrastructure. Army patrols have already been dispatched to check railways and vital installations in the eastern part of the country.
The first explosive incident damaged tracks near the village of Mika, approximately 60 miles south-east of Warsaw. In the second incident, power lines were destroyed in the Puławy area, about 30 miles from Lublin. While passenger trains were halted, no injuries were reported.
Authorities are also examining a camera found near the blast site, investigating its planned use in the coordinated attack.
