Poland detained three Poles suspected of spying for Russia

Poland detained three of its citizens suspected of ​spying on NATO troop deployments, preparing for ​acts of sabotage and spreading ‌disinformation on behalf ​of Russia, authorities said on Wednesday. Poland says its role as a hub for military and other supplies to Ukraine has made ‌it a target for Russian spies trying to gather information on support for Kyiv's effort to repel Russia's invasion, as well as engage in acts of sabotage.

"Officers of (the Internal Security Agency ABW) detained ‌3 persons suspected of espionage activities on behalf of the Russian Federation. The detainees are Polish ‌citizens, men aged 48 to 62," Polish Special Services Minister Tomasz Siemoniak wrote on social media. "They are accused of intelligence activities – reconnaissance of the deployment of NATO forces on the territory of the Republic of Poland, as well as ⁠producing and disseminating ​propaganda and disinformation ⁠materials."

A court decided on their temporary arrest for three months, he added. The ABW said in a statement that the ⁠detention took place on May 12.

The men were also charged with producing and sharing propaganda and disinformation materials, preparing ​for sabotage and subversion, promoting symbols supporting Russia's aggression against Ukraine, and publicly praising the ⁠war, it said. "The detainees, commissioned by an identified Russian citizen associated with the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, ⁠also ​carried out intelligence-gathering activities, including identifying the location of NATO troops stationed in Poland," it said.

"The group members were trained to perform sabotage and subversive tasks through firearms training and battlefield tactics ⁠training." The Russian Embassy in Poland has not yet responded to a request for comment.

Poland is among ⁠many European countries to ⁠have arrested people suspected of spying, conducting cyberattacks or planning sabotage as part of what they say is a hybrid war waged on them by ‌Moscow for backing ‌Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion.