Polish authorities are pursuing terrorism charges against two Ukrainian nationals accused of carrying out a sabotage attack on a critical railway line delivering aid to Ukraine, allegedly on behalf of Russian intelligence services.
The Attack and Immediate Aftermath
The incident occurred on Sunday night near the village of Mika in east-central Poland, approximately 100 kilometres southeast of Warsaw. A train driver reported damage to the tracks, prompting an emergency response that confirmed an explosion had taken place.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported as a result of the blast, which targeted a vital supply route for international aid heading toward Ukraine. Polish officials stated that the two suspects immediately fled Poland and crossed into Belarus following the alleged attack.
International Response and Russian Links
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk characterised the incident as an "unprecedented act of sabotage," while Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski went further, labelling it "an act of state terror."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy echoed these concerns, stating he believes the sabotage has a "Russian link" and that "no one except for Russians is interested in this" after speaking with Prime Minister Tusk. Zelenskyy pledged Ukraine's full cooperation in the investigation and announced the creation of a joint Polish-Ukrainian group to prevent future Russian sabotage attempts.
Diplomatic Fallout and Security Measures
In response to the attack, Poland has taken significant diplomatic and security measures. Foreign Minister Sikorski announced the closure of the last remaining Russian consulate in Gdansk, following previous closures of consulates in Krakow and Poznan. The Russian embassy in Warsaw remains operational despite these actions.
Moscow responded by threatening to "reduce Poland's diplomatic and consular presence in Russia." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the bilateral relationship as having "deteriorated completely" and expressed regret at Poland's decision.
On the security front, Polish authorities plan to deploy up to 10,000 soldiers to assist police in protecting critical infrastructure across the country. Prosecutors have confirmed that several additional individuals have been detained in connection with the railway explosion alongside the two charged Ukrainians, whom authorities allege had "been collaborating with the Russian secret services for a long time prior to the attack."
