Polish authorities are preparing to press charges against two Ukrainians for an act of terrorist sabotage believed to have been carried out on behalf of Russia, causing an explosion that damaged a crucial train track used for deliveries to Ukraine, according to prosecutors on Wednesday. The two suspects reportedly fled to Belarus immediately after the attack on the rail line connecting Warsaw to the Ukrainian border. It is alleged that the Ukrainians had longstanding ties with Russian secret services.
Several individuals have been apprehended in connection with the railway blast, with authorities refraining from disclosing further details at this time. Prime Minister Donald Tusk has condemned the incident as an unprecedented act of sabotage, while Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski labeled it as an act of state terror.
The explosion, which occurred near Mika, approximately 100 kilometers southeast of Warsaw, resulted in track damage but fortunately did not cause any injuries. Additionally, 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 the belief that the sabotage incident has ties to Russia. He emphasized that apart from Russians, no other parties would have an interest in such actions. Zelenskyy pledged Ukraine’s cooperation with Poland, providing all necessary information and establishing a joint Polish-Ukrainian task force to counter Russian sabotage.
Western officials have accused Russia and its proxies of orchestrating numerous attacks and incidents across Europe following the invasion of Ukraine over three years ago. The alleged objective is to destabilize support for Ukraine, instill fear, and sow discord within European societies.
In response to the railway blast, the Polish government announced plans to deploy up to 10,000 soldiers to assist the police in safeguarding critical infrastructure nationwide. Sikorski also declared the imminent closure of the last operating Russian consulate in Gdansk as a retaliatory measure.
Moscow has reciprocated by announcing a reduction in Poland’s diplomatic and consular presence in Russia. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed the decision, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed regret over the deteriorating relations with Poland and the diminishing diplomatic ties.