Warsaw: Polish authorities have formally charged a third Ukrainian national in connection with what prosecutors describe as a Russian-directed sabotage plot targeting the country’s critical railway network. The suspect, identified as Volodymyr B., is accused of assisting two other Ukrainians already detained for planting explosives along the Warsaw Lublin rail line a key supply route supporting Ukraine’s war effort.
According to the prosecutor’s office, the newly charged suspect allegedly transported one of the main perpetrators, Yevhenii I., to the site earlier this year to help scout the precise location where the bomb would be placed. Investigators say the reconnaissance trip was a vital step in carrying out the operation. Authorities emphasize that the probe remains active as they work to identify every person connected to the plot, including potential handlers abroad.
The development comes amid a broader security crackdown. Poland has announced the closure of its last Russian consulate, citing escalating intelligence threats. In parallel, several thousand soldiers have been deployed to protect rail lines, energy facilities, and other strategic infrastructure across the country. The government says the measures are necessary to counter what it describes as Russia’s escalating “hybrid operations” across Europe.
Moscow has rejected the allegations, dismissing Poland’s actions as “Russophobia” and signaling that it will scale back Poland’s diplomatic presence in Russia. The exchange underscores the worsening state of relations, with both sides increasingly framing sabotage and espionage incidents as part of a wider confrontation beyond the battlefield in Ukraine.
Polish leaders say the case fits a larger pattern of Russian-linked sabotage attempts since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Just last week, Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated publicly that two Ukrainians allegedly recruited or coerced by Russian operatives were responsible for a previous explosion along the same rail corridor. Officials claim one of the men had previously been imprisoned for sabotage in Ukraine, while the other is from Russian-occupied Donetsk, suggesting Moscow may be exploiting vulnerable or compromised individuals.
Volodymyr B. was detained on November 20 and charged two days later with aiding the sabotage scheme “for the benefit of Russian intelligence.” A Warsaw court has ordered him held in pretrial detention. Prosecutors have not ruled out additional arrests as they analyze communications, travel logs, and possible financial links among the suspects.
Investigators say the Warsaw–Lublin line appears to have been intentionally targeted due to its importance in transporting humanitarian assistance and military supplies to Ukraine. The sabotage attempt has amplified concerns among European governments about similar plots aimed at undermining supply chains, political stability, and military coordination within NATO.
As the investigation continues, Polish officials warn that the case demonstrates the evolving nature of Russia’s hybrid strategy one that blends covert sabotage, recruitment of foreign nationals, and pressure on critical infrastructure. The fallout from the arrests is likely to deepen tensions in an already volatile regional environment.