The authorities in Poland and Germany have arrested at least five of their citizens in recent days and accused them of spying for Russia or of offering to help Moscow commit violence on European soil, including a “possible attack” on the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky.
The arrests underscored fears of the Kremlin’s furtive network in the West and its use of foreign nationals, including violent criminals and soccer hooligans, to terrify or possibly even kill opponents sheltering abroad.
The Polish National Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement that a Polish citizen, identified as Pawel K., was detained on Wednesday.
It said he had offered to assist Russian agents in a possible plot aimed at killing Mr. Zelensky.
It gave few details, other than saying he had “declared his readiness to act for the military intelligence of the Russian Federation and established contacts with citizens of the Russian Federation directly involved in the war in Ukraine.”
Persons:
Volodymyr Zelensky, “, ”
Organizations:
Prosecutor’s, Russian Federation
Locations:
Poland, Germany, Russia, Moscow, Ukraine, Polish, Russian