Warsaw, Nov. 17, 2025 — Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described an explosion on the country’s rail network near the Ukraine border as an “unprecedented act of sabotage,” amid a series of suspected attacks targeting European infrastructure in recent months.
A passenger train traveling between Warsaw and Lublin was forced to make an emergency stop early Sunday after damage was discovered on the tracks. The route is a critical corridor for delivering aid to Ukraine.
“Blowing up the rail track on the Warsaw-Lublin route is an unprecedented act of sabotage targeting directly the security of the Polish state and its civilians,” Tusk said in a social media post Monday. He added that the goal of the attack was to derail the train and that additional damage had been identified elsewhere on the route.
The incident occurred near the village of Mika, roughly 62 miles south of Warsaw. In a separate event further along the track, a train carrying 475 passengers was forced to stop Sunday evening after damage to an overhead line shattered windows in one of the carriages, according to local police.
Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said the military was inspecting a 74.6-mile stretch of track leading to the Ukrainian border.
Regional Tensions and Security Concerns
The suspected attack comes amid heightened tensions in the region. In recent weeks, a series of suspected Russian drone incursions disrupted airports, grounded flights, and heightened public concern across central and eastern Europe.
In September, NATO warplanes shot down several Russian drones over Poland, marking the first time the alliance engaged Russian drones over a member state’s territory. Authorities say these drone incursions, along with sabotage, cyberattacks, and disinformation campaigns, are part of Russia’s effort to exert influence in the region without direct military engagement with NATO members.
Germany alone reportedly experiences an average of three drone incursions daily, including over military installations and critical infrastructure, according to German authorities.
Past Incidents
While drone disruptions have become more routine, a physical attack on Poland’s critical infrastructure represents a serious escalation. Polish authorities previously blamed Moscow for a fire that destroyed a large Warsaw shopping center last year. In May, Tusk confirmed that the Marywilska fire was arson commissioned by Russian services.
In February, Polish officials said a Russian national suspected of coordinating sabotage against Poland, the U.S., and other Western allies was deported from Bosnia and Herzegovina and subsequently arrested in Poland.
Tusk emphasized Poland’s commitment to bringing the perpetrators to justice, saying, “We will catch the perpetrators, regardless of who their backers are.”