Polish General Declares 'Pre-War' Period with Russia Amid Escalating Sabotage and Cyberattacks

General Kukula's Stark Warning

General Wieslaw Kukula, Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, issued a grave warning on November 17, 2025, declaring that Russia has entered a 'pre-war' period with Poland. Speaking to Polskie Radio, General Kukula asserted that Russia is actively 'building an environment here intended to create conditions favourable for potential aggression on Polish territory'. He further elaborated that 'if anyone has been to war, they know that what we are experiencing today is not an actual war; it is, in fact, a pre-war situation — or what we refer to as hybrid warfare'.

The General's comments underscore a growing concern in Warsaw regarding Moscow's escalating hybrid operations, which include a surge in cyberattacks and acts of sabotage targeting Polish infrastructure. He drew a parallel to 1939, emphasizing the gravity of the current geopolitical climate.

Escalation of Sabotage and Cyber Warfare

General Kukula's statement came amidst a series of alarming incidents across Poland. Just hours before his remarks, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that a railway track between Warsaw and Lublin had been blown up in what he described as an 'unprecedented act of sabotage'. This railway line is a critical conduit for aid shipments to Ukraine. Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski later characterized these railway attacks as 'an act of state terrorism' with a 'clear intention to cause human casualties'. Prosecutors have launched investigations into these incidents as 'acts of sabotage of a terrorist nature' carried out on behalf of a foreign intelligence service.

Beyond physical sabotage, Poland has been grappling with a relentless wave of cyberattacks. Officials report that Poland faces between 20 and 50 cyberattacks daily, with critical infrastructure such as hospitals and city water systems among the targets. In August 2025, a significant Russian-backed cyberattack reportedly attempted to disrupt the water supply of one of Poland's largest cities. Other incidents include drone incursions and GPS jamming, particularly in areas near the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.

Polish Response and International Context

In response to the heightened threat, Polish authorities have taken decisive action. In October 2025, eight individuals suspected of preparing acts of sabotage across the country, with alleged links to Russia, were detained. Furthermore, Poland's Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski indicated on November 19 that Warsaw plans to withdraw consent for the operation of Russia's last remaining consulate in Gdańsk, escalating its diplomatic response to the perceived Russian aggression.

General Kukula stressed that Poland is 'not defenseless' and possesses 'the full arsenal of tools to respond to such threats either symmetrically or asymmetrically'. He highlighted the importance of an effective deterrence policy, based on robust defensive capabilities and the collective resolve of NATO members. His comments echo warnings from other Western officials about Moscow's intensifying hybrid operations across Europe, aimed at destabilizing the continent and undermining NATO's cohesion.