Poland detains Russian spies aiming to sabotage supply of weapons to Ukraine

Polish security services have detained members of a Russian espionage ring, authorities said, alleging they were preparing acts of sabotage in Poland and had been monitoring railway lines used to transport weapons into Ukraine.

Polish security services have detained members of a Russian espionage ring, authorities said, alleging they were preparing acts of sabotage in Poland and had been monitoring railway lines used to transport weapons into Ukraine.

Interior minister Mariusz Kaminski said the Internal Security Agency had arrested nine people suspected of spying for Russia in the case.

He said at a news conference in Warsaw that the suspects were preparing “sabotage actions aimed at paralysing the supply of equipment, weapons and aid to Ukraine”.

He said the security agents also seized cameras, electronic equipment and GPS transmitters, which the suspects planned to place on shipments of aid to Ukraine.

Defence minister Mariusz Blaszczak suggested the group had entered from neighbouring Belarus, a Russian ally that borders Nato member Poland.

“The threat was real,” Mr Blaszczak said on state radio.

Private radio RMF FM broke the news about the arrests, saying that the group had been collecting information in south-eastern Poland around the military airport in Jasionka, which is a transit point for weapons and munitions sent to Ukraine by countries supporting Kyiv’s fight against Russia’s invasion.

Mr Kaminski said the operation against the alleged espionage ring is continuing and more details will be revealed later.

Published: 16/03/2023 by Radio NewsHub