Four individuals from Donbas, allegedly recruited online by Russian intelligence, were arrested in Poland after a railway sabotage near Warsaw threatened a commuter train.
Four Detainees Charged With Terrorist Assistance
Following the sabotage of railway tracks in eastern Poland, authorities arrested four Ukrainian nationals from Donbas who were accused of aiding a terrorist attack. Prosecutors charge them with assisting foreign intelligence and being part of an alleged plot to derail a train.
Online Recruitment by Russian Intelligence
Investigators say the detainees were recruited remotely by Russian intelligence via internet applications. They had no contact with one another and likely did not know of each other’s existence. Each was assigned a distinct task, including arranging and delivering explosives used on the tracks near Warsaw.
ABW Conducts Investigation Under Prosecutorial Oversight
The counterintelligence unit of the Internal Security Agency (ABW) is leading the case under the supervision of the prosecutor’s office. ABW officers are interrogating the suspects and analysing gathered material, which is why the prosecutor has not yet released the detainees’ status despite the statutory 48‑hour waiting period.
Two Scenarios Under Investigation
Authorities are examining two possible scenarios: (1) a planned attack intended to derail a train that was thwarted by an error or carelessness of the perpetrators; (2) a demonstration aimed at frightening society and proving that “Russia is already here.” A court decision will determine whether temporary arrest is warranted.
Sabotage Near Warsaw and Gołąb Endangers Trains
During the weekend, sabotage acts broke railway tracks. In Mika, Masovian Voivodeship, two Ukrainians hired by foreign services detonated explosives on the rails, creating a major derailment risk. The next day, authorities were notified that in Gołąb, near Puławy, the traction line was severed, rupturing windows on a train carrying 475 passengers.
