On Monday afternoon, a dangerous incident occurred at the Puławy railway station. Authorities detained a 25-year-old citizen of Moldova who unauthorizedly activated the handbrake on a Szczecin-Dorohusk freight train. The man was found with electronic equipment and documents written in Russian. Special services, including the Internal Security Agency and the Military Counterintelligence Service, were involved in the case, indicating the seriousness of the situation.

Apprehended in the Act

A 25-year-old citizen of Moldova was caught by a patrol while positioned between the carriages of a Szczecin-Dorohusk train.

Russian Documents and Electronics

Phones, SIM cards, and documents in Russian were found on the suspect, directing the investigation toward possible sabotage.

Involvement of Special Services

ABW, SKW, and the National Prosecutor's Office were included in the explanatory actions, examining the man's potential ties to foreign intelligence.

On Monday, February 16, 2026, around 4:00 PM, police officers operating as part of the special Operation TOR apprehended a 25-year-old man at the Puławy station in the Lublin Voivodeship. Operation TOR enabled a rapid response when a Moldovan citizen pulled the handbrake on a freight train heading toward the border with Ukraine. Officers found the suspect hiding directly between the carriages of the Szczecin-Dorohusk train. The situation forced an immediate halt to traffic and a detailed inspection of the train for hazardous materials, which were ultimately not found. During a search of the detainee, officers discovered a bag filled with electronic equipment. Inside were mobile phones, numerous SIM cards, power banks, and documentation kept in Russian. Given the nature of the findings and the location of the incident on a key transport route, the Internal Security Agency (ABW) and the Military Counterintelligence Service (SKW) were immediately notified. The proceedings are supervised by the National Prosecutor's Office, with the Central Investigation Bureau of the Police (CBŚP) also involved in on-site activities. In recent years, Polish services have noted increased activity by foreign intelligence targeting transport infrastructure, especially on supply routes leading toward the country's eastern border. The services' operations in Puławy lasted until late evening. Although the Lublin police spokesperson, Deputy Inspector Andrzej Fijołek, confirmed the detention and securing of the area, investigators remain cautious regarding the motives of the 25-year-old. The incident fits into a series of concerning railway events, which, in the context of the ongoing geopolitical situation, are treated as a priority by Polish security authorities. The man remains at the disposal of the prosecutor's office, which will decide on charges related to endangering land traffic and possible acts of sabotage. „The freight train near which this man was loitering was checked; no hazardous materials were found.” — deputy insp. Andrzej Fijołek 25 years — age of the detained Moldovan citizen Timeline of the Puławy Incident: February 16, 3:45 PM — Brake Activation; February 16, 4:00 PM — Suspect Detained; February 16, 6:00 PM — Special Services Called; February 16, 9:00 PM — Pyrotechnic Inspection Concluded

Mentioned People

  • Andrzej Fijołek — Spokesperson for the Provincial Police Commander in Lublin, providing information on the intervention's course.