Following sabotage on the Warsaw‑Lublin rail line on 15‑16 November, all Polish territorial defence brigades are supporting the Railway Protection Guard, supplying armed soldiers but no ammunition.
All Territorial Defence Brigades Mobilised
All territorial defence brigades are backing the Railway Protection Guard in protecting rail infrastructure nationwide after the recent sabotage incidents. About 400 territorial soldiers are active. According to Władysław Kosiniak‑Kamysz, WOT will intensify patrols on key rail corridors, especially in eastern Poland.
Weapons Without Ammunition
Soldiers have been issued weapons but no ammunition. An official release stated the operations are preventive, prioritising infrastructure protection and citizen safety on rail transport. WOT spokesman Mjr Rafał Rychlik explained the conduct in cooperation with the Railway Safety Administration (SOK) were training exercises aimed at improving organisational and coordination procedures, not combat tasks.
Technology in Patrols
WOT will employ unmanned aerial vehicles and support the missions with a helicopter during patrols. The focus is on critical infrastructure such as bridges, viaducts, tunnels, stations, junctions, and traffic‑control devices.
Investigation into Sabotage
On 15–16 November, sabotage was carried out on the Warsaw‑Lublin line. In Mika near Garwolin a bomb explosion destroyed a track, while in another spot near Puławy a passenger train had to brake abruptly due to a damaged rail. The prosecutor’s office opened an investigation into terroristic sabotage against rail infrastructure, suspected to be linked to foreign intelligence. The investigation will be conducted by a team of prosecutors.
Scale and Scope of Operations
All activities are preventive, with the priority of ensuring safe transport infrastructure and safeguarding passengers. The operations demonstrate the country’s readiness to protect critical rail assets amid ongoing security challenges.
