Poland’s Internal Security Agency detained two Ukrainian men, aged 24 and 25, on November 3 in Minsk Mazowiecki. Prosecutors accuse them of conducting reconnaissance of critical infrastructure and military facilities across the country. They allegedly received payment to gather intelligence on behalf of Russian services. The suspects also face charges for setting fire to several vehicles. Investigators claim they changed licence plates to match those used by Ukrainian military vehicles before committing the arson. This tactic was "aimed at fueling anti-Ukrainian sentiment," according to the National Prosecutor’s Office. ABW officers searched their residences and other connected locations, seizing data storage devices and narcotics during the operation.
Charges and Sentencing Risks
The prosecutor’s office charged the men under Poland’s espionage law for working against the state on behalf of a foreign intelligence service. That specific crime carries a minimum prison sentence of five years. They also face sabotage charges, which are punishable by ten years to life in prison. A court ordered both suspects into pretrial detention for three months at the prosecutor’s request. The legal framework here is strict, leaving little room for leniency given the severity of the alleged acts. I find the sentencing guidelines particularly stark when compared to previous cases involving lower-level offenses.
Context of Rising Threats
Poland has seen a huge rise in espionage and sabotage cases carried out on behalf of Russia in recent years. The ABW launched 48 investigations related to espionage last year, more than twice as many as in 2024. In those two years taken together, there were more espionage investigations than over the previous three decades combined. Earlier this year, the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism identified Poland as the "primary focus" of Russia’s campaign of sabotage in Europe. Last month, a Polish man was jailed for five and a half years for spying, with tasks including airport reconnaissance linked to a possible plan to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelensky. Shortly after that conviction, trials began for four men accused of arson attacks in Poland and Lithuania on Russian orders. In July, a Russian couple with refugee status was convicted of spying, while in October, a dual-citizen military reserve member was detained on suspicion of espionage. These incidents illustrate a sustained pattern of hostile activity targeting Polish security.
