Authorities in Poland and Germany have recently made several arrests of their citizens, accusing them of spying for Russia or plotting violence on European soil, including a potential attack on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
In Poland, a Polish citizen identified as Pawel K. was detained for allegedly offering to assist Russian agents in a plot to kill President Zelensky. The individual had established contacts with Russian citizens involved in the war in Ukraine, according to the Polish National Prosecutor’s Office.
Additionally, two Polish citizens were arrested for attacking a top aide to Russian opposition campaigner Aleksei A. Navalny in Lithuania last month. Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland emphasized that there would be no leniency for collaborators with Russian services, vowing to eradicate any attempts at destabilization.
The arrests in Poland coincide with the apprehension of two dual citizens of Germany and Russia in Germany on suspicion of spying for Moscow and planning to sabotage aid to Ukraine by targeting Western military infrastructure.
These arrests highlight concerns about the extent of Moscow’s infiltration in European countries and its use of foreign nationals, including criminals and extremists, to carry out acts of intimidation and violence against Kremlin opponents.
The investigation into these incidents has revealed connections between the arrested individuals and previous attacks, such as the killing of a Russian helicopter pilot in Spain last year after his defection to Ukraine. The British authorities also arrested Bulgarian citizens last year for allegedly conducting surveillance for Russian intelligence.
The European officials are on high alert as they continue to uncover the Kremlin’s covert network in the West, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among countries to combat these threats.
