Fire breaks out at Polish manufacturer supplying drones to Ukraine

A fire erupted at a Polish electronics factory on August 31, producing components for drones utilized by both Polish and Ukrainian armed forces, according to Polish media reports. The blaze at the WB Electronics plant in Skarzysko-Kamienna, a southern-central Polish city, was reported to have occurred around 12:23 a.m. local time and was extinguished within two hours' time. No casualties were reported.

WB Electronics, one of Poland's foremost defense manufacturers, has been supplying drones to the military forces of both Poland and Ukraine. The specific plant affected by the fire specializes in producing pumps for drones, as per Polish Radio. The incident is currently under investigation by the Polish police and the Internal Security Agency (ABW).

While investigators have not yet confirmed the cause, they have stated that they are not ruling out the possibility of arson. However, they have cautioned against spreading unverified claims about the cause of the incident.

A surveillance camera captured an unidentified individual entering the facility through the fence, according to Polish media. An intrusion alarm was activated a few minutes after the fire. WB Electronics had been designated as one of the founding members of the EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance, an organization committed to enhancing joint security and fostering the development of new drone and counter-drone technologies.

The news of the fire comes at a time when Western officials are sounding the alarm over a surge in instances of sabotage and arson across Europe, many of which are believed to be linked to Moscow. In a separate incident on August 25 in Slovakia, three individuals were arrested for plotting to set fire to a Ukrainian-owned factory that produces advanced surveillance drones.