Polish General Dismissed After Anti-Tank Mines Discovered in IKEA

The official statement provided no details on the reasons behind the dismissal, but local media reports have suggested it is tied to the disappearance of anti-tank mines in June 2024—a mishap that Kępczyński allegedly failed to report to his superiors.

According to these reports, soldiers neglected to unload a portion of a train carrying over 1,000 tons of explosives. As a result, the anti-tank mines continued to be transported across the country before they eventually went missing. It’s alleged that false documentation was submitted to misrepresent the actual number of mines, media outlets have reported.

The situation came to light when the missing weapons were discovered in an IKEA warehouse. Someone reportedly contacted the military, asking, “When are you planning to collect your mines?” This prompted officials to realize a problem had occurred.

An investigation into the incident was launched last year and is still ongoing, according to the prosecutor’s office, which provided an update on Friday.

Kępczyński has yet to respond to a request for comment from POLITICO.