The head of the Ministry of National Defense Vladyslav Kosiniak-Kamys dismissed Major General Artur Kapchinsky from the position of the head of the auxiliary inspection of the armed forces, said the representative of the Ministry of National Defense. The statement did not state the reasons for the general’s dismissal. The media say that this is related to the loss of a transport of anti-tank mines from Hajnovka to Mosti. The prosecutor’s office confirms that it is investigating such an incident.
“On January 9, 2025, by order of the Minister of National Defense, the head of the support review, Major General Artur Kepczynski, was removed from his position,” said a statement published by Platform X on Thursday. The announcement did not provide information about the reasons for this decision.
The representative of the Ministry of National Defense announced that the temporary performance of the duties of the head of the inspection will be entrusted to the brigade of G. Peter Wagner.
Artur Kapczynski was dismissed after three years
General Kipczynski served as interim head of the Armed Forces Support Review since April 2021 and became the head of the Review on November 2, 2021.
The tasks of the Armed Forces Support Inspection include: organization and management of the system of material and technical support of the Armed Forces, including the material and technical support of Polish soldiers abroad, as well as cooperation with other bodies and organizations in matters of state defense. The inspection also carries out tasks related to the participation of the military in the fight against natural disasters and their consequences.
Major General. Artur Kipczynski Radek Pietruska/PAP
“Loss of anti-tank mines”
The “Onet” portal wrote that the dismissal of the general is related to the fact that the army allegedly lost a load of anti-tank mines transported from Hajnovka (Podlasie) to Mosty (Zachodniopomorskie). Colonel Bartos Okonievsky, deputy district prosecutor for military affairs of the Poznań District Prosecutor’s Office, explained this case in correspondence with TVN24.
“The Department of Military Affairs of the Szczecin-Nibuszew District Prosecutor’s Office in Szczecin continues the preparatory case for non-fulfillment of obligations in the field of arms control, which led to the sudden – temporary – loss of weapons in the form of anti-tank mines, i.e. a prohibited act under Article 359 of Criminal Code and others,” said the prosecutor.
Russian TM-62M anti-tank mines (photo from Ukraine) Andrzej Lange/PAP
Article 359 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Tajikistan states that “a soldier who fails to fulfill his duties or exceeds his authority to protect or control weapons, ammunition, explosives or other means of war, even unintentionally, causes their loss to criminal liability is imposed. the penalty of military imprisonment or deprivation of liberty for a period of up to three months.” up to 5 years old.
Four people were prosecuted. No preventive measures have been taken against the suspects.
“In the course of the investigation, extensive evidence was collected. A number of witnesses were interviewed, documentation was provided and an investigation was conducted. The investigation is ongoing – evidentiary work is underway to clarify the important circumstances of the case,” said Colonel Bartosz. Okonievsky.
Mines were circulating throughout the country
As “Onet” writes, the mines traveled around the country in one wagon for almost two weeks. PKP Cargo has placed the wagon in the warehouse of IKEA furniture stores near the city of Orla (Podlaskie). The president of IKEA Industry Poland, Malgorzata Dobies-Turulska, confirmed to Onet that the explosives came from the company’s warehouse.
According to Onet, the wagon eventually returned to a location just 30 kilometers from the ammunition depot in Hajnowka.
Russian anti-tank mine TM-62MShutterstock
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Main photo credit: Andrzej Lange/PAP
