Poland's Internal Security Agency has detained six people suspected of espionage on behalf of Russia and of illegally sending Russia materials used in the manufacture of ammunition and weapons, the country's minister in charge of coordinating the intelligence services, Tomasz Siemoniak, announced on X.
The operation took place between 21 October and 2 November, during which agency officers searched 21 locations across the Warmian-Masurian, Pomeranian and Greater Poland voivodeships. Six suspects described as being connected to a criminal group were taken into custody.
Those detained include five Polish citizens ranging in age from 25 to 52, as well as a 37-year-old Russian woman. A court ordered four of the suspects to be held in custody, while the remaining two were placed under other preventive measures.
According to the investigation, the detainees acted on behalf of Russian secret services and took part in a scheme intended to bolster Russia's military capabilities. The group is also believed to have delivered significant quantities of military-grade materials to Russia that are used in the production of ammunition and weapons systems.
The case remains under investigation, supervised by the Podlaskie Branch of the Prosecutor's Office.
The detentions come amid a broader pattern of alleged Russian espionage activity across Europe. Lithuania recently expelled three Ukrainian citizens accused of carrying out tasks for what officials described as hostile foreign intelligence services in exchange for financial rewards.
This week, Estonia deported a Russian citizen, Leonid Karabeshkin, and barred him from entering the Schengen Area over his alleged ties to Russian secret services. Police in the German state of Brandenburg have also recently arrested a Ukrainian citizen suspected of spying for Russia.
