Polish authorities are preparing to press charges against two Ukrainians for carrying out a terrorist-sabotage act on behalf of Russia in connection with an explosion that caused damage to a railway track used for deliveries to Ukraine, prosecutors announced on Wednesday. The suspects reportedly fled to Belarus after the attack on the rail line connecting Warsaw to the Ukrainian border. Polish officials claim that the two Ukrainians had been working with Russian secret services for an extended period.
Additional individuals have been detained in relation to the railway explosion, as stated by prosecutors who did not disclose further details. Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the incident as an unprecedented act of sabotage, while Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski labeled it an act of state terror.
The explosion occurred near Mika, approximately 100 kilometers southeast of Warsaw, resulting in track damage but no injuries. In a separate incident over the weekend, power lines were destroyed in the Puławy area, around 50 kilometers from Lublin in eastern Poland.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy echoed the belief that the sabotage incident has ties to Russia, stating that no one other than Russians would have an interest in such actions. Zelenskyy confirmed Ukraine’s cooperation with Poland in providing necessary information and announced the establishment of a joint Polish-Ukrainian working group to counter 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. The goal, as per Western officials, is 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 throughout Poland. Sikorski disclosed that the last Russian consulate in Gdansk would be closed, following the shutdown of two other consulates in Krakow and Poznan in recent years. The Russian embassy in Warsaw remains operational.
In retaliation, Moscow intends to downsize Poland’s diplomatic and consular presence in Russia, as reported by the state news agency RIA Novosti, quoting Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed regret over the deteriorating relations between Russia and Poland, emphasizing the Polish authorities’ efforts to sever diplomatic ties.
