Polish Prime Minister Confirms 'Unprecedented Act of Sabotage' on Key Railway Line to Ukraine

Explosion Confirmed on Vital Rail Link

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on November 17 that an explosion on a railway line connecting Warsaw and Lublin was an 'unprecedented act of sabotage.' The incident, which occurred on November 16, damaged a section of track near the village of Mika in the Masovian province, approximately 100 to 130 kilometers (60-80 miles) southeast of Warsaw. This route is considered crucially important for delivering aid and supplies to Ukraine.

A train driver first reported irregularities on the line around 7:40 a.m. on Sunday, leading to the discovery of the damage. Further inspections revealed that an explosive device had been detonated, destroying a segment of the railway track. Additionally, damage to overhead cables was identified on the same line, closer to Lublin. Fortunately, despite two passengers and several staff members being on a train that encountered the affected section, no casualties or injuries were reported.

Strategic Importance and Official Response

Prime Minister Tusk emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that the explosion was 'likely intended to blow up a train' and represented 'an attempt to destabilise and destroy railway infrastructure, which could have led to a rail disaster.' He vowed that Polish authorities would 'catch the perpetrators, whoever they are.' The railway line's strategic significance stems from its role as a vital conduit for military assistance and humanitarian aid flowing into Ukraine.

In response to the incident, Polish authorities immediately launched an investigation, treating the event as an 'act of sabotage of a terrorist nature.' Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz announced that the military would inspect approximately 120 kilometers (75 miles) of the railway track leading to the Ukrainian border to ensure its safety. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed solidarity with Poland and offered assistance in the investigation.

Suspected Foreign Involvement and Broader Context

While Prime Minister Tusk initially refrained from directly naming a perpetrator, he linked the attack to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Tomasz Siemoniak, Poland's security services minister, indicated a 'very high' probability that the sabotage was orchestrated by a foreign intelligence service. Later, Jacek Dobrzyński, a spokesperson for the security services minister, explicitly stated that 'everything indicates' Russian intelligence services were behind the incidents, describing it as a 'terrorist attack.' This sentiment was echoed by Defense Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz, who noted that 'all traces lead east, to Russia.'

This incident aligns with a broader pattern of increased sabotage and espionage activities targeting Poland and other European nations, which Polish officials have frequently attributed to Russian or Belarusian intelligence services. These actions are seen as part of a 'hybrid war' aimed at destabilizing countries supporting Ukraine and undermining European unity. The Polish National Security Committee convened a meeting to discuss the response to these railway incidents.