Ukrainians working for Russia were behind rail sabotage, says Polish prime minister

Polish authorities have identified two Ukrainian men, allegedly working for the Russian intelligence services, as the key suspects in two cases of rail sabotage, Donald Tusk said.

- Jakub Krupa Shaun Walker Bobrowniki

The men are alleged to have planted a military-grade explosive device and attached a steel clamp to rail tracks in two incidents on a strategic rail route used for aid deliveries for Ukraine.

The Polish prime minister said the explosive went off on Saturday night under a freight train, which suffered minor damage to its undercarriage, and damaged the tracks, posing a risk to other trains taking that route.

Speaking in the Polish parliament yesterday, Tusk said the two incidents were “unprecedented” and “perhaps the most serious, when it comes to the security of the Polish state, situation since the beginning of the full-scale invasion on Ukraine”. He added: “We are dealing with an act of sabotage, the consequence of which could have been a serious catastrophe with casualties. That is why I am saying that a certain line has been crossed.

“In both cases we are sure ... that the attempt to blow up the rails and the railway infrastructure violation were intentional ... and their aim was to cause a railway catastrophe.”