Poland sends army to patrol eastern rail routes, points to Russia as culprit

Poland is certain that Russia was behind Sunday’s explosion on a strategically important railway line to supply Ukraine. Prime minister Donald Tusk said the identities of the perpetrators have been established to be two Ukrainian citizens working for Russian intelligence. The Polish government believes the explosion was intended to blow up a train, and the the country’s defense forces are assisting to patrol railway lines in eastern Poland.

“We are certain, not presuming, that we have identified those responsible”, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told the Sejm, the Polish lower house this morning. “Images of the perpetrators of the sabotage have been captured. The identified individuals are two Ukrainian citizens, who have been operating with Russian intelligence for a long time.”

Polish authorities say the two men are believed to have crossed into Poland from Belarus this autumn and fled back to Belarus after the attacks. One of the suspects had previously been convicted of sabotage in Ukraine.

Poland takes security measures

In response to the attack, Poland is raising the threat level on certain railway lines and will deploy the army to protect important infrastructure, announced Tusk. Polish defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said he is increasing the involvement of the Territorial Defence Forces in supporting the Railway Security Guard in patrolling railway lines in eastern Poland. Particular attention will be paid to critical infrastructure elements: bridges, viaducts, tunnels, stations, turnouts and railway equipment.

Tusk described the sabotage as “unprecedented” and possibly the most serious attacks on Polish state security since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He also warned that sabotage linked to Russian services is “gaining momentum” across Europe and aims to sow chaos and anti-Ukrainian sentiment.

The act of sabotage took place on railway line No. 7, which runs from Warsaw through Lublin to the state border. Around 115 trains travel on this line every day. At 6.40 a.m., a PKP Intercity train driver reported unevenness on the track. This information was immediately forwarded by the traffic controller in Dęblin to the driver of the next train.

A key link to Ukraine

Tusk said on Monday that the route is crucial for supplying Ukraine. The country has often indicated that it is a target for sabotage, because many military transports to Ukraine pass through Poland. NATO and EU member Poland is considered the most important transit country for the transport of military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

Following the sabotage, all procedures were followed, both by PKP PLK and the carriers, said Poland’s Minister of infrastructure Dariusz Klimczak. “We are currently preparing to repair the tracks, both near Puławy and near Dęblin. We are waiting for the services to complete the procedures. Repair of the tracks in the vicinity of Azoty in Puławy is already underway, and the line is passable.”

“We should certainly expect further attacks in completely different locations, ” General Jarosław Kraszewski, former director of the Department of Armed Forces Supervision, warned on Polsat News. He said railways aren’t fully protected by railway security services, as that’s virtually impossible. “Therefore, carrying out and preparing such an attack, a sabotage act, is relatively easy and straightforward.”

This article was originally published by our sister publication RailTech.com.