American think tank: Sabotage on the Polish railway is phase zero against NATO

The sabotage on the Polish railway is part of Russia's intensified campaign aimed at destabilizing Europe, said the American think tank Institute for War Studies (ISW) on Tuesday.

“Saboteurs have recently damaged at least two sections of the Polish railway on the route to Ukraine. The explosions on the railway line are part of Russia's intensified 'Phase Zero' campaign, which aims to destabilize Europe, undermine NATO cohesion and create political, informational and psychological conditions for Russia's potential future war against NATO,” the center emphasized.

Recently, in another report, the ISW noted, referring to this campaign, that there were no direct signs of Russian preparations for an attack on NATO countries, but activities within the so-called phase zero can last for years. The Kremlin may also decide to stop the attack even after its terms have been agreed.

On November 15-17, acts of sabotage occurred on the Warsaw-Dorohusk route. In the town of Mika (Masovian Voivodeship, Garwoliński County), an explosion of an explosive device destroyed a railway track. In another place, near the Gołąb railway station (Puławy County, Lublin Voivodeship), a train with 475 passengers had to suddenly brake due to damage to approximately 60 meters of traction.

On Monday, the prosecutor's office initiated an investigation into acts of terrorist sabotage committed on behalf of foreign intelligence. On Tuesday, an extraordinary meeting of the government security committee was held with the participation of military commanders, service chiefs and a representative of the president.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk presented information to the Sejm on Tuesday on the diversion of railway infrastructure. The head of government said that it was possible to identify the people responsible for the act of sabotage – two Ukrainian citizens who have been cooperating with the Russian services for a long time. Tusk also announced that he would issue an order introducing the third Charlie alert level on specific railway lines.

From Washington Natalia Dziurdzińska (PAP)

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