Poland has launched a major investigation after an explosive device damaged a key railway line connecting Warsaw and Lublin, an incident Prime Minister Donald Tusk condemned as an “unprecedented act of sabotage” targeting national security.
Explosive Device Found on Busy Rail Route
The incident occurred on Sunday, when a passenger train made an emergency stop after its conductor spotted damage on the tracks. Investigators later confirmed that an explosive device had been planted along the line.
No injuries were reported, but Tusk said the attack was deliberate and posed a direct threat to public safety.
“The blowing up of the railway track on the Warsaw–Lublin route is an unprecedented act of sabotage aimed at the security of the Polish state and its citizens,” Tusk wrote on X, vowing to bring the perpetrators to justice “regardless of who commissioned them.”
Evidence of Multiple Attempts
After visiting the site, Tusk revealed that investigators found signs of additional damage at another point along the same rail corridor, suggesting more than one attempted strike.
The Warsaw–Lublin line is one of Poland’s most important transport routes and a strategic link for shipments of Western military aid to Ukraine.
Suspicion Falls on Russia Amid Rising Hybrid Threats
Although the prime minister did not explicitly name a suspect, the incident comes against a backdrop of escalating tensions with Moscow.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Poland has accused Russian intelligence of orchestrating arson attempts, cyber attacks, and sabotage operations inside the country. Authorities have charged dozens of individuals with espionage or destructive activities linked to Russian networks.
European officials across the region have also blamed Russia for a series of hybrid attacks, including:
- damage to Baltic Sea internet and power cables,
- airspace violations,
- attempts to interfere with critical infrastructure.
The Kremlin denies involvement.
A Pattern of Targeted Rail Incidents
The explosion is not the first suspicious incident on Poland’s rail system. Last month, authorities opened a probe after a 20-tonne coal wagon was found mysteriously detached on a busy line in Katowice. Other European countries have reported similar attempts at rail sabotage, with Czech officials warning that Russia has made “thousands” of interference attempts.
Growing Crackdown on Russian Intelligence Networks
Poland has intensified security operations in recent months:
- Eight suspects linked to Russian intelligence were detained last month, some accused of monitoring military facilities.
- A total of 55 people have recently been arrested over alleged illegal activities on Russia’s behalf.
- Earlier this year, authorities uncovered an attempted cyber attack targeting the water supply of a major Polish city.
- Two Russian consulates were shut down, and several Russian and Belarusian diplomats were expelled for suspected sabotage involvement.
As hybrid threats rise across Europe, Polish officials warn that Moscow is expanding its efforts to destabilize frontline states — and that the latest railway blast is a stark reminder of the risks.
