Special Services

The individual detained on Aug. 1, 2023 is a 39-year-old citizen of Belarus named Mikhail A. (last name withheld due to Poland’s privacy laws). He is yet another person identified as a member of a criminal group acting for the benefit of the Russian intelligence and security services.

As found by the ABW, the man used to live in Russia for a couple of years. Between 2008 and 2010 he worked in Moscow then moved to Saint Petersburg. In Russia he would spend six years in jail. He maintained contact with the citizens of Russia whom he had met in Saint Petersburg and in Crimea.

Mikhail A. came to Poland in 2021. He contacted the coordinator of the spy ring. The evidence in this case suggests that he was regularly paid for the execution of tasks designed to undermine both internal and external security of Poland. These included the reconnaissance of critical infrastructure, namely military areas and facilities, and sea ports as well as pushing propaganda. While executing these tasks the suspect stayed low profile and took precautions so as not to be identified and tracked. The man would regularly change the means of communications and cover the tracks of his criminal activity. He was fully aware that his spying activities in Poland was punishable with imprisonment.

The Belarusian individual pleaded party guilty to the aforementioned counts. He was charged with taking part in the activity of a foreign intelligence targeted against Poland pursuant to article 130 paragraph 1 of the Penal Code. Upon the court’s decision, he has been remanded in custody for the period of three months.

As a result of intensive efforts undertaken by the ABW, a subversion-sabotage spy ring was identified in Poland earlier this year whose tasks included the reconnaissance of military facilities and critical infrastructure, monitoring and keeping record of transports with humanitarian aid and military equipment for the war-stricken Ukraine, making preparations to derail trains bound for Ukraine, setting fire to property and vehicles, assaulting by beating, and conducting information warfare efforts in a bid to turn Poles against the Ukrainian people and stir up reluctance to provide further support to Ukraine.

Sixteen suspects have been detained in this case so far – all of them are held in pre-trial detention pursuant to a court’s decision.

The ABW is continuing to investigate further details of the activity of said spy ring and to identify all individuals tied to the group, and therefore does not rule out the possibility of further arrests in the future.

Press Service of Poland’s Minister-Coordinator of Intelligence and Security Services