Polish citizen accused of spying for Russia in potential plot to assassinate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

A Polish citizen has been arrested for allegedly spying for the Russian government in connection with a potential assassination attempt against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, top prosecutors in Poland and Ukraine announced Thursday.

The Polish citizen, identified as Pawel K., was accused of wanting to act on behalf of foreign intelligence against the Republic of Poland, the Polish National Prosecutor’s Office said in a press release.

The suspect allegedly “proactively established contacts” with representatives of the Russian military command and “informed them of his willingness to cooperate” with the foreign military intelligence services of the Russian Federation, according to Andriy Kostin, the Ukrainian Prosecutor General .

The suspect’s alleged tasks for the Russian government included collecting and providing the agency with information on the security of Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport, an international airport located in Jasionka, southeastern Poland, Polish and Ukrainian officials said.

“This was aimed at helping Russian special services plan a possible assassination attempt against the Ukrainian president during his presence in Poland,” Kostin said in a statement. statement about.

The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office passed information about the suspect to its Polish counterpart and “key evidence” was obtained by Ukraine during the investigation, the Polish National Prosecutor’s Office said in the statement. . The suspect was arrested Wednesday and the investigation is ongoing, the office said.

If convicted, the suspect faces up to eight years in prison, the office said.

“This case highlights the continuing threat that Russia poses not only to Ukraine and Ukrainians but to the entire free world,” Kostin said. “The criminal Kremlin regime constantly seeks to undermine European and global security. It organizes and carries out sabotage operations on the territory of other sovereign states.”

Zelensky visited Poland for the last time in April 2023, receiving a massive welcome from its citizens and President Andrzej Duda. Poland lies on Ukraine’s western border and has hosted many refugees who fled Ukraine immediately after the Russian invasion.