Poland Empowers Railway Guards to Neutralize Drones Amid Sabotage Concerns

• •Poland plans to empower railway guards to neutralize drones threatening rail infrastructure.
• •Recent sabotage incidents on the Warsaw-Lublin line raised security concerns linked to Russian operations.
• •The draft amendment broadens SOK's powers, including the use of firearms against drones.

Poland is set to enhance the powers of its Railway Security Guard (SOK) to neutralize drones that threaten rail infrastructure, as outlined in a government draft published on October 17, 2026. This decision follows recent sabotage incidents on the Warsaw-Lublin line, attributed to alleged Russian operations. The amendment to the Railway Transport Act will allow railway guards to use devices to destroy or disable drones and broaden their authority to use firearms under specific circumstances. The government aims to adapt SOK's powers to address contemporary threats and bolster the protection of critical infrastructure. Previous incidents included explosives damaging tracks and attempts to derail trains, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk linking the attacks to two Ukrainian nationals working with Russian intelligence. The draft comes amid rising concerns about drone activities near sensitive sites, prompting a parliamentary inquiry into the powers of law enforcement in such scenarios.