General Artur Kępczyński was the head of the Armed Forces Support Inspectorate, responsible for organizing and managing logistical support for Poland’s military. 

A statement published on the social media platform X said that Kępczyński was dismissed on January 9, 2025, but no official reason was given.  

According to reports by the Polish news website Onet, the general was fired over the disappearance of landmines in June 2024.  

At the time, over 1,000 tons of explosives were transported by rail from Hajnówka, in northeastern Poland, to Mosty, near the German border. 

While the mines reportedly reached their destination in July, poor oversight and untrained personnel allegedly caused delays and confusion during unloading. 

Five days later, when train carriages were returned to Poland’s state-owned railway company, it emerged that five pallets of mines were missing. 

Onet reported that the missing mines were carried on a civilian carriage through several Polish cities, including Szczecin, Poznań, Warsaw and Białystok, over the course of nearly two weeks. They were eventually located near Orla, a village in northeastern Poland, inside a warehouse belonging to furniture giant IKEA. 

The discovery prompted an investigation by the military, which is examining potential negligence in supervising military equipment. 

According to Colonel Bartosz Okoniewski, the authorities have gathered substantial evidence, including witness testimony and documentation, and have charged four individuals.  

If convicted, they could face up to five years in prison.