Sabotage attacks on Poland’s railway lines could turn the conflict between Russian and Ukraine into a third world war as authorities hunt the ‘foreign intelligence services’ to blame
Putin is getting the blame for a string of attacks on Poland’s railway lines and power grid, with the country’s prime minister complaining of an “unprecedented act of sabotage” amid fears the Russia-Ukraine war could erupt into a vast global conflict. Poland PM Donald Tusk vowed to “catch the perpetrators, regardless of who their backers are” after a blast damaged a strategically vital track supplying Ukraine with freight and aid on November 16.
An explosive device was laid on the tracks, according to a statement from Warsaw, and the attack could have proved catastrophic if a train had derailed at full speed.
“Unfortunately, there is no doubt that we are dealing with an act of sabotage,” said Tusk when visiting the scene. He called the incident “an attempt to destabilise and destroy railway infrastructure, which could have led to a rail disaster”.
A second suspected sabotage attack destroyed power lines along the same railway corridor, with a metal device found on the nearby tracks. No injuries were reported and trains continue to run while investigations and repairs are underway.
“According to preliminary findings, windows in one of the carriages were broken,” said local police. “Police officers are conducting investigations at the scene.”
Public prosecutors announced an investigation into “acts of sabotage of a terrorist nature… on behalf of a foreign intelligence service.” Poland’s national security committee met to discuss the incidents, joined by military commanders, heads of security services, and a representative of the president.
Security services minister Tomasz Siemoniak said there was a “very high” probability that foreign intelligence services were to blame. “We are dealing with the [intelligence] services of a foreign state, and not a gang of scrap metal thieves.”
Poland’s interior minister, Marcin Kierwiński said in a social media post that Poland was “facing acts of sabotage unprecedented in its most recent history.”
Russia might top the list of suspects for the sabotage. The Polish army is now checking the 120km (75 miles) of track between the incident site and the border with Ukraine, suggesting Poland feels Putin is likely to blame.
Russian intelligence, meanwhile, accuses the Europeans of a ‘false flag’ attempt. But a top security expert has warned that both sides in the conflict in Ukraine could have a motive – as well as a history of false flag attacks to achieve their aims.
The two individuals arrested in Poland over the sabotage are Ukrainians, believed to have entered the country from Belarus.
Russia would want to stop critical goods reaching its enemy but Ukraine might want to drag Poland deeper into the war, suggests security editor Brandon J. Weichert
“After all, Ukraine is clearly losing the war,” he writes. “What’s more, the country is running out of money.” Kyiv might welcome greater conflict in which NATO does more than provide logistical and intelligence support to Ukraine, he argues.
“Things are getting dicey on the continent,” he warns.
“Warsaw is justified in being angry… But Polish leaders must avoid giving into the desire to escalate. Such a move could easily trigger a larger NATO response, which, in turn, will trigger a third world war.”
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