On the night of Saturday, November 15, 2023, a train near Warsaw’s PKP Mika station was stopped by driver Mateusz Maciak when he discovered a sabotaged track section.
The Night Explosion
A loud explosion shook the area near PKP Mika on the evening of November 15. Still, trains continued to run, and several passenger and freight sets passed the damaged section during the night.
Only the following morning did a train driver notice a dip in the track. He reported the discovery to the duty controller, and by dawn a Warsaw Commuter train numbered 12713 was already running along the same line.
Driver’s Discovery
By radio, Maciak received information from the duty controller that the preceding train had sensed an unevenness on the rails. He slowed down after leaving PKP Mika and monitored the track, unaware that a break would actually be found ahead.
Why No Earlier Detection?
Investigators said that during patrols there were no audible signs of noise from the tracks; instead, reports pointed to a nearby construction site. No signals suggested that sound could have come from the rails.
The Broken Track
When Maciak saw the broken rails, passengers were unaware of the danger. He halted the train just in time, stating that if the train had been exactly before the critical point there would have been no chance. In the train from Warsaw West to Dęblin, besides Maciak, were several passengers. The broken track was deliberately chosen.
Only after the event did Maciak realize how close the catastrophe was, admitting he felt terrified. The train had been moving at high speed on that section—ordinary speeds up to 120 km/h, sometimes up to 160 km/h.
Investigators Confirm Sabotage
Prosecution is certain that explosives were deliberately placed on the tracks. Ukrainian suspects Oleksandr K. and Yevhenii I. are accused of sabotage, allegedly arriving from Belarus, executing the attack, and returning immediately. One suspect already faced conviction in May 2025 in Lviv for similar acts.
A request for temporary arrest was filed, followed by releases and publication of the accused’s images. Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek said the suspects planted C4 under the track at PKP Mika and damaged infrastructure near Gołąb, forcing another train carrying 475 passengers to brake suddenly. Prosecutors claim at least four other persons may have aided the operation and remain in Poland.
