“Russia is plotting violent acts of sabotage across the continent as it commits to a course of permanent conflict with the West,” the Financial Times wrote on Sunday. “
Evidence is mounting of a more aggressive and concerted effort” by the Kremlin to launch attacks in Europe recently, according to assessments by three European countries shared with the Financial Times.
Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, the Polish defense minister, commented on the news to Polish newspaper Fakt on Tuesday.
“Such a threat exists,” he said.
“The defense services are on full alert to counter all actions that pose a threat to the Polish state,” he added.
“We already have arrests behind us, as announced a few weeks ago by the security agencies and the minister [coordinator for security agencies Tomasz Siemoniak - TVP World]. The detention of people suspected of sabotage and acting to the detriment of the Polish state, could have led to the setting of fire of important places,” the defense minister said.
Russia warns U.K.
In a tense diplomatic exchange on Monday, Russia issued a stern warning to the United Kingdom, cautioning that retaliatory measures could target British military installations and equipment both within Ukraine and elsewhere, should Ukraine employ British-supplied weapons to target Russian territory.
The warning followed remarks by British Foreign Secretary David Cameron implying Ukraine’s right to use British weaponry against Russia.
Should Poland worry?
The implications of Russia’s warnings could extend beyond diplomacy, raising concerns for Poland’s security.
Since the 2016 NATO Summit in Warsaw, British troops have been stationed in Poland. Notably, the presence of the Royal Lancers’ Light Cavalry Squadron in eastern Poland could be vulnerable to hostile actions by Russia.
Additionally, the deployment of the British anti-aircraft system, Sky Sabre, in Poland also adds to these security concerns.
