Eight people have been arrested in Poland on suspicion of preparing acts of sabotage, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on X. He announced that the arrests were made in several parts of the country and that further operations are still in progress.
Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said the suspects had conducted surveillance near critical infrastructure and military facilities. Authorities have not yet revealed details about the suspects’ backgrounds or possible links to foreign actors.
European intelligence agencies have repeatedly warned about sabotage and influence operations targeting key assets in several countries, often pointing to possible Russian involvement. It remains unclear whether Moscow played any role in the latest incidents in Poland.
More sabotage in Europe
In recent years, Europe has faced a number of sabotage attempts. The Dutch military intelligence service MIVD for instance has uncovered several Russian operations in the Netherlands. In 2024, a Russian hacking group carried out a cyber sabotage attack targeting the digital control system of a public facility in the country.
Ahead of the NATO summit in The Hague, rail infrastructure in the Netherlands was deliberately damaged. In Germany, tampering was reported with water supplies near military bases.
Beyond national borders, crucial undersea cables off the coasts of European countries have been severed by vessels frequently sailing between Russia and Europe. Several of these ships were later detained by authorities for investigation.
‘Sabotage will increase even after end of war in Ukraine‘
Intelligence services believe such acts are designed to undermine European unity and sow doubt among the public and political leaders — part of a broader campaign to weaken Europe’s security and cohesion.
According to the Dutch MIVD, Europe should prepare for more acts of sabotage. “The MIVD does not see the Russian threat to Europe diminishing — in fact, it is increasing, even after a possible end to the war in Ukraine,” said MIVD Director Vice Admiral Peter Reesink earlier this year, following the release of the agency’s annual report.
