After alleged acts of sabotage on Polish railways, Prime Minister Donald Tusk made a point: He accused Russia of sowing discord in Europe and Ukraine – and spoke of “state terrorism”.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk condemned two alleged acts of sabotage on a Polish railway line to Ukraine as Russian “state terrorism.” In a short speech to parliament on Friday, Tusk called on Poland to unite against Moscow’s efforts to “sow discord” in Europe, in Ukraine “and, most importantly, among ourselves.”
The diversionary maneuvers “inspired and organized by the Kremlin services for months” have recently “crossed a critical line, and now we can even talk about state terrorism,” Tusk stressed. The aim of the sabotage was “to destroy human life and destroy the foundations of the Polish state.”
On Saturday and Monday, the railway line between Warsaw and Lublin, used to transport aid supplies to Ukraine, was sabotaged. In one case, a train may have derailed due to a steel device on the tracks. However, a train driver had raised the alarm. In another case, an explosive device detonated as a freight train was passing by. No one was injured at that time.
Warsaw blamed the two acts of sabotage on two Ukrainians allegedly acting on behalf of Moscow. The Polish government asked Belarus, where the two suspects are believed to have fled, for extradition.
The Foreign Ministry of Belarus, a Russian ally, said on Friday that its law enforcement agencies were “actively” searching for the suspects in cooperation with Polish authorities.
Poland is an important center for sending aid to Ukraine. This EU and NATO member state borders Ukraine, Russia’s ally Belarus and the Russian exclave Kaliningrad. Most of the arms and ammunition shipments from Western countries to Ukraine are made through Poland. The country is an important supporter of Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s war of aggression.
AFP/lay
