Poland’s Chief of the General Staff, General Wiesław Kukuła, has warned that a recent wave of cyberattacks and suspected sabotage marks a “pre-war” phase in which an adversary is preparing the conditions for possible future aggression.
Speaking to Polish Radio, Kukuła argued that the pattern of activity targeting Poland’s infrastructure is part of a broader effort to destabilise the country and weaken deterrence. He said the incidents represent “a certain environment” being built to shape the strategic landscape to an attacker’s advantage.
The interview, published by Rzeczpospolita and available here, comes amid rising concern in Warsaw following explosions and track damage on a major railway route linking Warsaw and Lublin, one of the key lines used to move aid to Ukraine. Prime Minister Donald Tusk has described the events as an “unprecedented act of sabotage” and warned that the consequences could have been far more severe.
Kukuła’s comments followed remarks by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who recently urged a shift toward wartime-level procurement reforms and warned of “mounting urgency” in the international security environment. Kukuła said the comparison to 1939 or 1981 was apt, and that the outcome depends on whether Poland and its allies invest sufficiently in deterrence.
Pressed on whether Poland now finds itself closer to a pre-war moment or the height of the Cold War, Kukuła said that states are “always in the pre-war period” and that stability depends on managing this phase effectively. He argued that credible resistance, significant defence investment and a clear signal of collective resolve by NATO members are essential to dissuade Russia from further escalation.
On the railway incident itself, Kukuła described it as consistent with hybrid warfare tactics, though he urged caution until the Interior Ministry issues its formal assessment. He said the pattern of recent incidents should be understood as part of a broader threat environment rather than isolated criminal acts.
Time to roll out the Red Carpet again, maybe an Air Display, exchange some gifts ?
The Polish general fella, should go back to telecommunications, which is where he excelled. Russia is NOT looking to go to war with NATO, as he/Russia would lose within 3 months.
Personally speaking, if he were to make that mistake, the Russian ‘issue’ would be fixed/eradicated once and for all.
Grey zone tactics, short of declared war. See how far you can push before anyone pushes back hard enough to dissuade you.
Im inclined to agree,
Offcourse I’m sure NATO is preparing to go to war with Russia and Russia is preparing to go to war with NATO.
Preparing to go to war is what militaries do.
I’m just very confident that NATO’s preparations far exceed Russias.
The only chance Russia had against NATO was cutting off the Baltics. They day Finland joined NATO was the day Russia lost even that slim chance of being able to threaten NATO.
In the event of war now Murmansk would be captured in a few hours and St Petersburg if a few days.
People in Moscow would be hanging Mad Vlad from a lamp post with in the week.
No one in Russia wants this war.
You would expect any General worth his/her salt to be holding their politicians’ feet to the fire on military spending and war readiness. And so they should. We must be ready in case.
But I just can’t see why Putin would want war with NATO. He’s not mad or suicidal. It would be tougher for NATO than many think, but they would prevail.