Poland arrests man over alleged plot to assassinate Ukrainian arms industry official
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
A Ukrainian serviceman preparing a deep-strike drone for a combat mission at an undisclosed location in Ukraine.
PHOTO: REUTERS
- Poland arrested a Ukrainian man suspected of trying to assassinate a Ukrainian arms industry official on behalf of Russian intelligence using a remote-controlled explosive.
- The explosive device failed to detonate, and the suspect fled to Poland where he was caught and charged with attempted murder.
- Polish authorities highlighted that Russian intelligence operates across borders, recruiting individuals for covert missions, including a recent arrest of a Russian linked to a similar plot.
AI generated
WARSAW – Poland has arrested a Ukrainian man suspected of attempting to assassinate a representative of Ukraine’s arms industry on behalf of Russian intelligence services, prosecutors and the Internal Security Agency (ABW) said on Aug 20.
Western countries and Ukraine have long accused Russia of recruiting people, including Ukrainians, to carry out sabotage and espionage.
Russia has repeatedly denied the allegations.
The Russian embassy in Poland did not immediately respond to an e-mailed request for comment.
The suspect, identified only as Serhii P. under Polish privacy laws, is accused of trying to kill a representative of Ukraine’s arms industry in Irpin, near Kyiv.
“The investigation revealed that Serhii P. planted an improvised explosive device under a car used by a potential victim,” ABW said in a statement.
“The device was intended to be detonated remotely using a cellphone. The mechanism did not detonate due to a malfunction,” it added.
After the failed attempt, the suspect fled to Poland, where he was arrested in Warsaw.
He was charged with attempted murder using explosives and possession of explosives without the required permit.
He faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison or life imprisonment, prosecutors said.
“The case demonstrates that Russian intelligence services conduct operations that transcend national borders and utilise individuals travelling between countries,” ABW said.
Earlier in August, Poland arrested a Russian citizen accused of being recruited by Moscow to kill a Ukrainian-American citizen in Warsaw. REUTERS
