General Dismissed, Soldiers Charged Over 240 Lost Mines Found In IKEA Warehouse
The discovery of anti-tank mines in an IKEA warehouse went viral last week as the details began to emerge. In 2024 a shipment of several hundred anti-tank mines left the Polish Army base in Hajnówka, Eastern Poland, headed to an ammunition and materials depot in the western part of the country. However, human error led to mistakes which ended with serious consequences for those responsible. However, a closer look at the issue points to procedural, human and command failures.
In an interview with Onet the officer responsible for retrieving munitions pointed out many issues. The officer mentions that everything began with a delay in the cargo train’s arrival at the munitions depot. What struck him was a lack of logistical workers in the munitions depot on arrival. The security detachment had to wait several hours for the depot crew to arrive and then unload mines under supervision. At first, when transport finally made it, all crates were safely unloaded and documentation was transferred to the depot supervisor.
It was only after over a week after the delivery that the depot supervisor informed the officer of the missing train cart full of ordnance that was lost in the transfer. According to the officer’s testimony, a mistake occurred at the train depot in Goleniów. One of the carts was detached and left as the rest of the transport made it to the depot in Mosty. After several days the cart full of ordnance was found at the IKEA warehouse in Eastern Poland.
As a result, 4 soldiers face criminal charges over mishandling military property. In addition, the Chief of the Armed Forces Support Directorate was dismissed. The mistake was made presumably by rail workers, and led to a chain of poor events resulting in the loss of dangerous materials. In conclusion – what became a temporary laugh for some turned into a difficult event the Polish Army.