Fire breaks out at Polish drone manufacturer supplying Ukraine, security services investigate possible sabotage
A fire broke out overnight at a Polish defense plant producing components for drones used by the Polish and Ukrainian militaries, with Polish security services investigating whether the incident could have been an act of sabotage.
The fire began at around 12:23 a.m. on Aug. 31 at a WB Electronics facility in Skarżysko-Kamienna, Polish outlet Onet reported.
Shortly afterward, an operator from an external security company notified police that an anti-burglary sensor had been triggered at the facility.
According to unofficial information cited by Onet, surveillance footage recorded an unidentified masked person who allegedly entered the WB Electronics site by climbing through the perimeter fence.
A backpack and sweatshirt were found near the facility. Police officers, a tracking dog team and a thermal-imaging drone were deployed to the scene.
Poland's Internal Security Agency (ABW) and Military Counterintelligence Service are also investigating the incident.
“We are treating this matter extremely seriously. We are not downplaying it,” said Jacek Dobrzyński, spokesperson for Poland's security services coordinator.
He cautioned against spreading disinformation about the incident and said ABW officers were working to determine whether it could be classified as an act of sabotage.
The fire was relatively small, with firefighters working at the scene for around two hours. The plant was not operating at the time and no one was injured.
WB Electronics is part of WB Group, Poland's largest private defense company. It produces the FlyEye reconnaissance drone and Warmate loitering munition, both of which are used by Ukrainian forces. The Skarżysko-Kamienna facility manufactures composite structures and control systems for unmanned aircraft.