Poland arrests three people suspected of Russian-inspired arson attacks

Polish security services announced on Wednesday that three people suspected of committing arson attacks “in the name” of Russia had been arrested, while a Ukrainian was accused of inciting espionage against this member of the NATO.

In recent months, Poland, a staunch supporter of Ukraine, has witnessed several sabotage plots on its territory that it has blamed on neighboring Russia.

The three arrested suspects, a Pole and two Belarusians, allegedly started fires as part of an operation allegedly orchestrated by Russian intelligence services.

“These are new detentions as part of an investigation into the activities of an organized criminal group aimed at committing acts of sabotage, including arson, on behalf of the Russian secret services,” the spokesperson said. -spokesperson for the security services, Jacek Dobrzynski, in a press release.

The suspects were remanded in custody over an arson attack that Polish security said could be linked to the January arrest of a Ukrainian national in Warsaw.

In recent months, numerous unexplained fires have broken out in different regions of Poland.

Police are investigating a fire this month at a large indoor market in Warsaw, where 1,400 small businesses, mostly belonging to the city's Vietnamese community, were destroyed.

Authorities declined to speculate on a potential link to Russia.

Also on Wednesday, security services said a Ukrainian citizen, identified as Oleksandr D., was arrested in early March on suspicion of “encouraging a Polish citizen to participate in foreign intelligence activities against Poland,” a statement said. Dobrzynski said.

“This activity was supposed to consist of sharing photos of military vehicles intended to help Ukraine and crossing the border between Poland and Ukraine,” he added.

In exchange for information, the Pole was to receive a sum of 15,000 euros ($16,000), Dobrzynski said, without specifying whether he had accepted the offer.

Oleksandr D. was indicted Tuesday and faces at least eight years in prison if convicted.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk previously said that several hijacking, sabotage and arson attempts had been undertaken in Poland on behalf of Russia in recent months.

These acts “were fortunately avoided thanks to the vigilance of our services and allies,” Tusk said in mid-May, adding that Poland would strengthen its intelligence services in response.

A loyal ally of kyiv, Poland is one of the main countries through which Western countries transfer weapons and ammunition to Ukraine to help it in the fight against Russia.