Ukrainians Linked to Russian Intelligence Suspected of Railway Sabotage in Poland

Two Ukrainians are under suspicion of conducting separate acts of railway sabotage in Poland on behalf of Russian intelligence, Prime Minister Donald Tusk informed parliament on Tuesday.

The individuals “have been collaborating with Russian intelligence for a considerable time,” Tusk stated, referencing details provided by prosecutors and investigators. He noted that while authorities are aware of the suspects’ identities, they will not disclose them until the investigation is complete.

The sabotage incidents, which took place between Saturday and Monday, resulted in damage to railway infrastructure used for transporting supplies to Ukraine. Tusk characterized these events as “potentially the gravest national security concern for Poland since the onset of the full-scale war in Ukraine.”

In the first incident, a steel clamp was affixed to the tracks, which Tusk described as “likely intended to cause a train derailment.” The second involved the activation of a military-grade explosive device while a freight train was passing by. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported in this latter incident.

One of the suspects is a Ukrainian national who was sentenced for “acts of sabotage” by a court in Lviv in May, Tusk revealed. The other suspect is a resident of the Russian-occupied Donbas region. Both individuals entered Poland from Belarus this autumn and are believed to have returned to Belarus shortly after the acts of sabotage.

Tusk mentioned that, in total, 23 individuals have been arrested in relation to sabotage cases within Poland. As a member of both NATO and the European Union, Poland has become a crucial transit point for military and humanitarian assistance directed towards Ukraine.

European leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga, voiced their support for Poland following these revelations. Sybiga indicated on Monday that the sabotage might have been executed “to assess reactions.”

Tusk suggested that the objectives of these attacks likely included inciting “social and political repercussions,” particularly by exacerbating anti-Ukrainian sentiment, which he deemed “particularly alarming in countries like Poland.”

Following Tusk’s statements, the Kremlin accused Poland of “Russophobia.”

“It would be odd if Russia wasn’t immediately blamed,” quipped Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov during a state TV appearance, adding that “Russophobia is thriving there,” whilst not outright denying any involvement.

Tusk indicated that the names of the suspected saboteurs might be publicly disclosed later on Tuesday.