Polish judicial authorities have identified a third person who was allegedly involved in organizing additional actions against the country’s railway infrastructure. In doing so, they expanded the investigation that was initiated after an explosion on a freight train and various acts of sabotage on the railway network. According to the Polish news agency PAP, this circumstance led to the issuance of European arrest warrants against two suspects who fled to Belarus after the incidents in November.
According to PAP, the Warsaw District Court issued these European arrest warrants against Estonian-born, 41-year-old Yavheniy Ivanov and 39-year-old Ukrainian citizen Oleksander Kononov. Both were accused of planning and carrying out damage to Polish railway lines in mid-November and then crossing the border into Belarus, a country known for its close ties with Russia. According to the agency, these events included the detonation of explosives placed under a freight car in the town of Mika, which caused significant damage to the train and railway tracks.
The PAP media stated that following this attack, the railway authorities temporarily closed the affected routes, cut off the power supply and carried out thorough inspections of all affected infrastructure. At the same time, other acts of sabotage were detected in the Golab area, which consisted of deliberately inserting metal parts into the rails, which affected the electric traction system and largely disrupted the operation of rail transport in this strategic corridor.
As PAP reported, the investigation revealed that Volodimir B., the third of those allegedly involved, had worked with Ivanov and Kononov in preparing other similar actions. Volodimir B. is officially charged with complicity, reinforcing the hypothesis that there is a broader network aimed at affecting critical infrastructure through organized sabotage. Sources accessed by the agency indicated that evidence collection is underway, including analysis of border movements, communication records and review of materials seized in the areas where the incidents occurred.
In words from state officials quoted by PAP, the Polish government has blamed Russia fully for triggering the events and declared sabotage a form of “state terrorism.” This accusation heightened the political dimension of the case, as Warsaw interpreted the action as part of an escalation of hostilities attributed to Moscow and watched the reaction of the Belarusian authorities with concern. PAP noted that contacts are being developed between the governments of both countries regarding the whereabouts and possible extradition of Ivanov and Kononov, although Belarus’ close cooperation with Russia raises skepticism about the possibility of the defendants returning to Polish territory.
PAP reporting highlighted that the issuance of these European arrest warrants strengthens cooperation between international police forces and coordination with security forces from other European Union member states. In this context, Warsaw aims to consolidate a cross-border alliance that will allow it to prevent and respond to similar attempts at sabotage in other parts of the continent, aware of the growing vulnerability of important infrastructure such as rail transport.
According to the media, both the extent of the material damage suffered and the temporary disruption of important trade and mobility routes underline the importance of the case for the region’s political and security environment. The open investigation not only takes into account the authorship of the recent events, but also seeks to clarify possible connections with previous incidents and other cells that may be involved in similar operations inside and outside Poland.
Various sources consulted by PAP have highlighted that the evidence to be analyzed includes recordings, evidence collected at the sites of the attacks and data from observations on the communication networks that the suspects would have used. The Polish authorities are also investigating whether these acts are part of a hybrid war strategy aimed at hindering logistics and supplies in the country.
The central government has intensified its requests for international support and called for cooperation to strengthen the defense of strategic infrastructure across the territory. According to the PAP, one of the main challenges is to prevent new attempts at sabotage while there is a risk that organized structures operate with external support.
Repeated official statements show the Polish state’s concern about the escalation of attacks that threaten not only local security but also the stability of European transport networks. In light of these events, international cooperation has gained renewed importance, with a particular focus on information sharing and coordinated monitoring of critical routes and mechanisms.
As PAP reports indicate, police and judicial investigations remain ongoing and evolving. The activities are aimed at both the arrest of fugitive suspects and the dismantling of any underlying structures that could interfere with the national infrastructure. The authorities emphasize the need for effective cooperation between States given the geographical and operational scope of the acts under investigation.
PAP’s reporting highlights that this case has increased attention to the risks faced by transport routes that are fundamental to Poland’s economy and supplies. As the search for the fugitives continues and Polish judges advance prosecutions, the country remains focused on developing multilateral relations to contain and prevent new threats of sabotage in the regional context.