# Russian intelligence activities in Poland

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/russian-intelligence-activities-in-poland
> Updated: 2026-08-12T19:19:23.000Z. Sources: 19. Developments: 2.

Polish authorities have identified and intervened in several activities allegedly orchestrated by Russian intelligence to destabilize regional relations or target specific individuals.

In July, Poland’s Internal Security Agency indicted an 18-year-old Ukrainian national, Illia K., for vandalizing World War II memorials and planning drone sabotage. Officials alleged the suspect was acting on behalf of Russian intelligence, receiving cryptocurrency payments to inflame tensions between Poland and Ukraine.

By August, Polish authorities thwarted a separate assassination plot in Warsaw. Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the arrest of a Russian citizen, allegedly recruited by Russian secret services, who was targeting a Ukrainian American citizen. Tusk described the individual as being “uncomfortable for the Putin regime.”

On August 7, Polish officials successfully intercepted a Russian-ordered plot to assassinate a dual US and Ukrainian citizen in Warsaw. Prime Minister Tusk characterized the incident as unprecedented, noting it was the first time a Russian-directed attempt was made to kill a US citizen on the territory of a NATO member state. The operation was a collaborative effort involving the Polish Internal Security Agency (ABW), the Polish police, and United States intelligence services. Tusk warned that Poland may face continued security pressures due to its role as a hub for military aid and a key supporter of Ukraine.

In connection to these security concerns, Tusk also referenced the June killing of Russian critic Semyon Skrepetsky in Biała Podlaska, which he characterized as a “political murder.”

## Claims

- Polish authorities prevented a Russian-ordered assassination attempt in Warsaw targeting a dual US-Ukrainian citizen. (corroborated by 16 sources)
- The operation to intercept the assassin was conducted in coordination with US intelligence services. (corroborated by 16 sources)
- This is the first known instance of a Russian-ordered attack on a US citizen within a NATO member state. (corroborated by 15 sources)
- The intended target was considered a person of interest or 'inconvenient' to the Russian regime. (corroborated by 15 sources)
- Ukrainian forces destroyed a Niebo-U radar station in Sevastopol, Crimea. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-12: Poland thwarts Russian plot to assassinate US-Ukrainian citizen in Warsaw

Polish authorities, with US intelligence assistance, thwarted a Russian plot to assassinate a dual US-Ukrainian citizen in Warsaw. The suspect was arrested on August 7.

19 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/poland-thwarts-russian-plot-to-kill-ukrainian-american-citizen

### 2026-07-16: Poland indicts Ukrainian teen for sabotage, blames Russian intelligence

Poland has charged an 18‑year‑old Ukrainian with defacing WWII memorials and planning drone sabotage, accusing him of acting for Russian intelligence to stir Polish‑Ukrainian tensions; he faces up to life in pr

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/poland-indicts-ukrainian-teen-for-sabotage-blames-russian-intelligence

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Cite as: Russian intelligence activities in Poland. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/russian-intelligence-activities-in-poland