Poland says two Ukrainian nationals allegedly acting for Russian intelligence planted a C-4 explosive on a rail line between Warsaw and Lublin and then retreated to Belarus. One suspect reportedly has a prior sabotage conviction in Lviv. Parts of Poland's rail network have been raised to threat level 3/4 while the rest remains at level 2, and officials warn the incident may be part of a broader escalation across Europe.
Poland Says Two Ukrainians Allegedly Worked for Russian Intelligence in Rail Bombing
Poland says two Ukrainian nationals allegedly acting for Russian intelligence planted a C-4 explosive on a rail line between Warsaw and Lublin and then retreated to Belarus. One suspect reportedly has a prior sabotage conviction in Lviv. Parts of Poland's rail network have been raised to threat level 3/4 while the rest remains at level 2, and officials warn the incident may be part of a broader escalation across Europe.
01:48 AM, 11/19/2025Security
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on Nov. 18 that two Ukrainian men allegedly acting on behalf of Russian intelligence planted explosives on a rail line between Warsaw and Lublin in an apparent attempt to derail or destroy a train. Authorities say the suspects crossed into Poland from Belarus and fled back to Belarus after the detonation. One suspect is reported to have a prior conviction for sabotage in Lviv, Ukraine.
The initial explosion occurred in the town of Mika on a line serving passenger and freight traffic. Investigators said the device used was a military-grade C-4 explosive, and they believe the attackers intended to cause a catastrophic incident.
In response to the incident, Poland raised the threat level for parts of its rail infrastructure to 3 out of 4, while the rest of the country remains at level 2. Additional patrols and security checks have been deployed along key rail corridors as investigators continue to examine forensic evidence and cross-border movements.
Official reactions
Polish security officials were initially cautious about naming a state sponsor but have since become more pointed. Jacek Dobrzynski, spokesperson for the Minister Coordinator of Special Services, said that "everything points to them being Russian special services," adding that Moscow's goal is to "shake our society" and provoke fear.
Prime Minister Tusk warned that similar acts of sabotage are rising across Europe and described the situation as an escalation of hostile activity. "This is particularly dangerous in countries like Poland, where we already host more than one million Ukrainian refugees," he said, urging vigilance and European cooperation.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the allegations as "Russophobia," saying Russia is being blamed for "all manifestations of the hybrid and direct war" and criticizing the political response in Poland.
The investigation remains active and many details are still being verified. Polish authorities continue to coordinate with international partners and Belarus-related inquiries are ongoing. Officials emphasize that the attribution is based on evolving evidence and that criminal and intelligence probes will determine responsibility and potential links to foreign services.