Polish special‑services and police are conducting intensive investigations into sabotage on the Warsaw–Lublin railway near Mika and Puławy, with arrests already made and evidence being secured.
Scope of the Sabotage Incidents
Sabotage acts were reported on the Warsaw–Lublin railway line near the villages of Mika and Puławy. Authorities say the incidents were carried out in separate stages and were intended to cause a major derailment or other catastrophic failure.
Initial Investigations and Arrests
Minister of Special Services Coordinator Jacek Dobrzyński confirmed that operational‑reconnaissance and investigative actions were underway, including arrests, evidence securing and detailed analysis. Several people are already detained within Poland, and further arrests are possible.
First Incident Near Mika
On July 15 the train crew in the early morning reported an anomaly and stopped the locomotive before a damaged track segment. The incident occurred on line 7 between Warsaw Wschodnia and Dorohusk, near Życzyn and the PKP Mika station. The track damage measured about one metre and forced traffic to be suspended on one of the rails, with rerouting imposed.
Neither passengers nor crew were injured. The Polish State Railways confirmed that the Warsaw–Lublin line remained operational, although some sections ran on a single track, causing possible ten‑to‑thirteen‑minute delays.
Second Incident Near Puławy
The second sabotage took place on the same line in the Puławy district at Gołąb. After 21:00 the night of Sunday, the 475‑passenger service from Świnoujście to Rzeszów was stopped due to damage to the traction network. A window was broken in one carriage, but no injuries occurred.
Investigators found items that may help identify the perpetrators, and preliminary analysis suggests the traction components could have been cut in a manner indicative of theft. The incident is being investigated by the Regional Police, the Central Police Investigation Office, and the State Security Service, under the supervision of the Puławy District Prosecutor’s Office.
Legal and Security Response
Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that two Ukrainian nationals, alleged collaborators with Russian intelligence, were identified as responsible. They had previously been convicted for sabotage in Ukraine and later entered Poland via Belarus.
The government has elevated the railway infrastructure alarm to the third level, Charlie, effective from 19 November 2025 to 28 February 2026. The measure imposes 24‑hour security duties, tighter procedures, and strict control of persons and vehicles around protected sites.
PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe state that, despite the damage, the Warsaw–Lublin line is still traversable, though speed limits and timetables have been adjusted. Technical crews continue repairs after the investigations conclude.