Poland Deploys 10,000 Troops to Protect Critical Infrastructure After Rail Sabotage Allegedly Linked to Russian Intelligence

Poland announced the deployment of 10,000 soldiers to protect critical national infrastructure after a series of sabotage incidents, officials said. Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said troops will be stationed to guard key assets — including railway lines used to send aid toward Ukraine — against further attacks.

The decision follows explosions on a section of track used to transport relief from Warsaw toward the Ukrainian border. Prime Minister Donald Tusk called the blast an "unprecedented act of sabotage" and said Polish authorities believe two Ukrainian nationals carried out the attack in cooperation with Russian intelligence.

As part of its response, Poland has moved to close Russia's last remaining consulate in Gdańsk; earlier this year Warsaw shuttered Russian consulates in Kraków and Poznań, citing links to sabotage operations. Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said he will request that other EU governments limit the movement of Russian diplomats within the 25-nation Schengen area.

"I have decided to withdraw consent for the operation of the Russian consulate in Gdańsk. It [the railway line attack] was not only an act of sabotage but also an act of state terrorism," Sikorski said.

Moscow has denied involvement, accusing Poland of "Russophobia" and promising reciprocal limits on Polish diplomatic and consular presence in Russia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said relations with Poland have "completely deteriorated" and called the consulate closure regrettable.

Security officials view the incident in the broader context of a wave of arson, sabotage and cyberattacks across Europe that they attribute to a hybrid campaign intended to disrupt Western support for Kyiv. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the attack underscored the urgent need to bolster protection for European critical infrastructure.

"We have to have a strong response because what Russia is trying to do is two things. On one hand to test us, to see how far they can go … and try to sow fear within our society," Kallas said.

Polish authorities say the two suspected perpetrators fled to Belarus. Jacek Dobrzyński, a spokesperson for the minister overseeing intelligence services, confirmed several other detentions but provided few details. Earlier this year Europol warned that criminal networks were being exploited to increase politically motivated sabotage — including arson, cyberattacks, data theft and migrant smuggling. Last month, Poland said it had worked with Romania to detain eight people suspected of planning sabotage operations.

Wiesław Kukula, the Polish army chief of staff, urged heightened vigilance as winter and the Christmas period approach, warning adversaries could use long nights to target more infrastructure. "We must not allow this to happen," he said.

The deployment is intended to deter further attacks and reassure the public and transport operators that critical routes and facilities will be protected while investigations continue.