Polish command will deploy up to 10,000 troops to protect critical infrastructure from acts of sabotage, Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz announced, according to the Polish Press Agency (PAP).
The operation will begin on November 21 and is set to become one of the largest security measures in Poland’s history.
The defense minister explained that the troops will coordinate with the police, railway security, and all state services to counter sabotage. Interior Minister Marcin Kerwiński emphasized that Poland will use “all available resources—across all ministries and agencies—to protect the safety of its citizens.”
Chief of Staff General Wiesław Kukula noted that the operation will be commanded by General Maciej Klish and will involve all branches of the armed forces.
The decision for this large-scale operation comes amid a series of sabotage incidents on the railway line leading to the Ukrainian border. Recently, two incidents occurred on the Warsaw–Dorohusk section. In Mice (Masovian Voivodeship), an explosive device damaged the railway track. Shortly after, rail damage was discovered near the Gołąb station (Lublin Voivodeship).
On November 17, the Polish prosecutor’s office launched an investigation into “sabotage acts of a terrorist nature committed in the interests of foreign intelligence.” The spokesperson for Poland’s intelligence coordinator, Jacek Dobrzyński, soon stated that the sabotage was organized by Russia, according to investigative data. On November 19, Dobrzyński reported the first arrests, noting that “a significant amount of evidence” had been collected. He did not specify the number of detainees, only mentioning that there were “several” suspects.
