3rd person charged in connection with rail sabotage case in eastern Poland

Volodymyr B., according to the NPO, is accused of acting on behalf of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Services by assisting the direct perpetrators in attacks on the country's rail infrastructure on Nov. 15 and 16.

The official statement said: “Volodymyr B. facilitated the commission of the crime by assisting the direct perpetrators in reconnaissance and preparing further actions.”

By formally charging Volodymyr B., Poland has taken legal action, rather than just making public accusations. The NPO’s statement notes that the sabotage was facilitated and prepared, rather than being an act of vandalism, indicating that the incident was state-sponsored or state-enabled.

Volodymyr B. is the first person identified by the NPO to be charged explicitly with acting on behalf of Russian services.

The charges come after Polish authorities identified two Ukrainian nationals, whom Prime Minister Donald Tusk claimed were Russian intelligence collaborators, as the main suspects in the Warsaw-Lublin line sabotage.

Footage and forensic evidence indicate that on Nov. 15, a device was placed on a critical rail segment near Mika in Masovian Voivodeship. The next day, a second act of sabotage was carried out on a section near Pulawy.

No casualties were reported, but Tusk described the incident as an "unprecedented act of sabotage" against one of the main corridors for Ukrainian-bound logistical traffic.

On Nov. 19, Poland announced the closure of its last remaining Russian consulate in Gdansk, as well as the deployment of up to 10,000 soldiers to guard key infrastructure under an initiative codenamed “Operation Horizon.”

The Warsaw–Lublin railway line is strategically important, linking the Polish capital to the Ukrainian border and facilitating aid and military logistics into Ukraine.

It is unclear whether Poland will issue a European Arrest Warrant or request assistance from Interpol in locating Volodymyr B. It remains unclear how Ukraine and Belarus will respond to the investigation. Previous suspects reportedly traveled from Belarus to Poland and back.