Poland Arrests Two Ukrainians Suspected of Spying and Sabotage for Russia

Poland's Internal Security Agency (ABW) has arrested two Ukrainian citizens, aged 24 and 25, on suspicion of spying and carrying out sabotage for Russian intelligence. The men were detained in Mińsk Mazowiecki, east of Warsaw. The case was announced on November 10; one report says the arrests took place on November 3.

What they are accused of

Investigators say the men identified and photographed critical infrastructure and military installations across Poland. They are also accused of setting vehicles on fire after swapping their licence plates for ones resembling those used by the Ukrainian military, which officials say was meant to shift blame onto Ukraine and feed disinformation.

According to prosecutors, the pair were paid for the tasks, partly in cryptocurrency. Both have been charged with espionage and sabotage, face between 10 years and life in prison if convicted, and have been placed in pre-trial detention for three months.

Polish and US troops in Latkowo, Poland. File photo: U.S. Army (public domain).

A wider campaign

Poland, a key hub for Western military aid to Ukraine, has accused Russia and Belarus of waging a hybrid campaign of sabotage, cyberattacks and disinformation since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Recruiting people online for small, paid tasks has become a recurring pattern in these cases.

Russia has repeatedly denied the accusations. The Russian embassy in Warsaw did not immediately respond to a request for comment.