Key Takeaways
- Two Ukrainian citizens working for Russian intelligence identified as railway sabotage suspects
- Explosions targeted tracks used for delivering aid to Ukraine
- One suspect previously convicted for sabotage in Ukraine
- Military-grade C4 explosive used in November 15 incident
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has revealed that two Ukrainian nationals working for Russian intelligence have been identified as suspects behind recent railway sabotage acts. The targeted tracks were crucial for delivering aid to Ukraine.
Sabotage Incidents and Investigation
BBC reported that one suspect had already been convicted in absentia for sabotage activities in Ukraine. Prime Minister Tusk visited the explosion site near Mika, southeast of Warsaw, calling it an “unprecedented act of sabotage.”
A second incident occurred near Pulawy, where a packed train was forced to make an emergency stop after overhead cables were damaged.
In a social media post, Tusk confirmed: “Unfortunately, the worst fears have been confirmed. On the Warsaw-Lublin route (Mika village), an act of sabotage has occurred. The explosion of an explosive device destroyed the railway track.”
Russian Intelligence Connection
A spokesman for Poland’s special services minister stated that “everything points to them being Russian special services.” The prime minister declined to name the suspects to avoid complicating the investigation but revealed one was living in Belarus and the other in eastern Ukraine.
Both suspects entered Poland from Belarus during autumn and returned via the Terespol border crossing in southwest Belarus, near the Ukrainian border. Tusk told parliamentarians: “The goal was to cause a rail catastrophe.”
Attack Details and Security Response
According to BBC reports, a military-grade C4 explosive device detonated on November 15 near Mika village, causing minor damage to a wagon floor. In the other incident, a train carrying 475 passengers had to brake suddenly due to damaged infrastructure.
Tusk informed MPs that authorities would issue orders raising alert levels on certain railway lines. He emphasized Russia’s broader objectives: “What the Russian authorities care about is not only the direct effect of this type of action, but also the social and political consequences… This of course means disorganisation, chaos, panic, speculation and uncertainty.”
Russia has not issued any official statements regarding the allegations.
