On Tuesday, June 9, 2026, 200 days will have passed since the launch of Operation Horyzont, which is being carried out by soldiers of the Polish Armed Forces in cooperation with the Police, the Railway Protection Guard (SOK), and other services responsible for state security. Since the first day of the operation, soldiers of the Territorial Defence Forces have remained wherever vigilance, presence, and rapid response are crucial to the safety of citizens.
March 11, 2026, Białystok. 1st Podlasie Territorial Defence Brigade. Operation Horyzont. Patrols in areas of critical and logistics infrastructure / Photo: Territorial Defence Force Command
Operation Horyzont was launched on November 21, 2025, in response to the growing threat of subversion and sabotage targeting critical infrastructure, particularly railway routes, transport hubs, and facilities essential to the efficient functioning of the state. The core of the forces assigned to these tasks consists of soldiers of the Territorial Defence Forces, whose knowledge of the local terrain, dispersed structure, and readiness for immediate action enable them to effectively support the Police and the Railway Protection Guard across Poland.
Since the start of the operation, TDF soldiers have been conducting patrols, observation, and infrastructure monitoring, both during the day and at night. Soldiers inspect critical sections of railway lines, as well as areas around stations, viaducts, bridges, level crossings, and transport hubs. Optoelectronic equipment and unmanned aerial vehicles are also used in the operation, increasing reconnaissance capabilities and enabling a faster response to potential threats.
The joint activities of the services are producing measurable effects in countering threats. As part of Operation TOR, carried out in parallel with the military Operation Horyzont, a joint patrol of the Police, the military, and the Railway Protection Guard detained a Moldovan citizen after he activated the handbrake in a freight wagon. The man was found to be carrying, among other items, mobile phones, electronic equipment, SIM cards, a power bank, and documents in Russian (Police detained a Moldovan citizen following a railway incident).
Another example of TDF soldiers’ involvement in securing railway infrastructure was their support for the services following the derailment of a freight train carrying fuel near Warsaw. The incident occurred in the area of Jaroszowa Wola, Piaseczno County, where several wagons of a Szczecin–Chełm train carrying diesel fuel in tank cars derailed.
Fire Service units, Police officers, and Railway Protection Guard personnel were working at the scene from the outset. The area was cordoned off and placed under supervision to prevent access by unauthorized persons and to ensure safe working conditions for technical and rescue services. Soldiers of the Territorial Defence Forces carrying out tasks under Operation Horyzont were also involved in the response. Their tasks primarily included securing the area, controlling access to the operational zone, and providing logistics support. The soldiers’ presence was supportive in nature and formed part of a broader response system for incidents that could affect the security of critical infrastructure. No one was injured in the incident, and no fuel leakage was found from the damaged tank cars.
Over the 200 days of Operation Horyzont, TDF soldiers have shown that security begins with presence: often quiet and invisible to travelers, but carried out consistently, day after day and night after night. This is service performed jointly with the Police and the Railway Protection Guard, based on information exchange, mutual support, and readiness for immediate action.
Operation Horyzont has been extended until August 31, 2026. This means that Polish Armed Forces soldiers will continue to support the protection of critical infrastructure, important routes, and strategic sites across the country. Wherever state security requires vigilance, TDF soldiers are there.
See also:
- Poland: Chinese Citizen Photographed Railway Infrastructure in Lubusz Voivodeship
- Polish President Authorizes the Use of the Armed Forces to Assist the Police
- Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk: Two Acts of Sabotage targeting Poland’s Railways
- Poland: Operation “Horizon” to Strengthen Critical Infrastructure Security