Poland will deploy 10,000 troops to guard critical infrastructure amid rising tensions with Russia, following railway sabotage blamed on Moscow-linked agents.
The government of Poland announced a major internal security operation after recent railway sabotage incidents that authorities believe are linked to actions orchestrated by Russia.
Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed on Wednesday that 10,000 soldiers will be deployed to protect critical infrastructure, transportation networks, and government facilities across the country.
The initiative, named “Operation Horizon,” will begin on November 21 and will integrate the efforts of the Armed Forces with national security agencies.
According to the minister, threats are no longer limited to the border region but have penetrated Polish territory, requiring a comprehensive response to what he described as “hybrid warfare.”
At a press conference in Warsaw, Chief of the General Staff General Wiesław Kukuła explained that the operation will focus on three objectives: risk management through the identification of vulnerable sites; preventive measures including ground and air patrols; and citizen involvement.
To support the latter, the government will release a mobile application allowing people to report suspicious activity using geolocation, photos, and video evidence.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński announced that prosecutors have filed espionage and terrorism charges against two Ukrainian nationals accused of carrying out last weekend’s sabotage. Both suspects fled to Belarus before being apprehended, raising concerns within the Polish government.
Kierwiński added that Poland will demand formal clarification from Ukraine regarding how one of the suspects—reportedly convicted in absentia in his home country—managed to enter Polish territory without triggering alerts in international security systems such as Interpol.
Despite these incidents, officials emphasized that Polish intelligence services have successfully prevented “dozens, if not hundreds” of similar sabotage attempts.
Kosiniak-Kamysz directly blamed Russia and Moscow-backed mercenaries for attempting to destabilize Poland at a moment of heightened regional tension.
