Russian agents posed as Ukrainian soldiers to carry out sabotage in Poland
Photo: Polish Police (Getty Images)
Two Ukrainians have been detained in Poland on suspicion of gathering intelligence and carrying out arson attacks while posing as Ukrainian military personnel on behalf of Russia, according to the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security (SPRAVDI).
In the town of Mińsk Mazowiecki, the Polish Internal Security Agency detained two Ukrainian citizens, aged 24 and 25.
According to the investigation, the detainees were photographing military facilities and critical infrastructure. In addition, they were charged with setting cars on fire.
Before carrying out the arson attacks, the suspects deliberately changed the license plates on the cars to numbers similar to those used by the Ukrainian army. Polish investigators are convinced that these actions were intended to shift suspicion onto Ukraine and stir up anti-Ukrainian sentiment among the local population.
The men received monetary compensation, including in cryptocurrency, for carrying out these tasks. By court order, they were remanded in custody for three months.
Between April 1 and October 15, 2026, nine cases of sabotage were recorded in Poland. Among them were a fire at a company that manufactures components for combat drones, as well as the arson attack on a Starlink satellite communications station.
A Russian national was recently detained in Poland on suspicion of acting on behalf of a foreign intelligence service. He was photographing trains and railway infrastructure.
Earlier, a 25-year-old Ukrainian man was detained in Poland on suspicion of involvement with a group that may have been planning acts of sabotage on behalf of the Russian Federation.
