Poland’s counter-intelligence agency, the ABW, has arrested nine people suspected of being Russian spies.
The suspects had been gathering information on the delivery of military equipment to Ukraine via Poland and were preparing acts of sabotage on behalf of Russian intelligence services.
Six of the suspects have been charged with espionage and participation in an organized criminal group, while the other three are still being questioned. The group received regular payments from Russian intelligence services and was also involved in carrying out propaganda activities to destabilize Polish-Ukrainian relations and foment anti-NATO sentiment in Poland.
The ABW seized electronic equipment and GPS transmitters that allowed Russian intelligence to track shipments of aid and military equipment to Ukraine once installed on trains.
The spies also installed hidden cameras on important railway routes and junctions, recording and transmitting data on traffic. Polish intelligence fears that the group was planning sabotage operations against railroads and critical infrastructure involved in the provisioning of military equipment to Ukraine.
Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak confirmed that the spy network has been dismantled by the country’s counter-intelligence.
The suspects are foreigners from across Poland’s eastern border, according to Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski.
The arrest of the Russian spies highlights the continuing tensions between Poland and Russia, particularly regarding Ukraine.
