Polish court convicts Igor Rogov in explosives espionage case

A Polish court has convicted Russian opposition activist Igor Rogov of espionage and offenses related to an intercepted shipment of explosives. The package, addressed to Rogov in Sosnowiec, was discovered by courier staff in July 2024 after the packaging was damaged during an attempt to place it in a small locker.

Authorities found detonators concealed in marker pens, metallic powder inside a flask, and a volatile nitroglycerine solution. Investigators believe these components could have been assembled into an explosive device. The incident occurred amid heightened concerns in Poland regarding suspected Russian-backed sabotage operations targeting European countries that support Ukraine.

Rogov denied knowledge of the package's contents, claiming he believed he was accepting an ordinary delivery from Ukraine at the request of another activist. The shipment's route involved multiple intermediaries, including a Ukrainian woman who transported the items into Poland at the request of an acquaintance known as Diesel, identified as Ukrainian trader Yuriy Kovalenko.