Three Ukrainians Jailed for Russia-Linked Sabotage in Poland
Convicted men sentenced for involvement in acts of sabotage and terrorism on behalf of Russia, prosecutors say.
WARSAW: Three Ukrainians have been jailed in Poland for belonging to a gang accused of committing and preparing 'acts of sabotage and terrorism' in Europe on Russia's behalf, prosecutors said on Friday.
The conviction of the three men is part of a wider investigation, notably into fires at two shopping centers in Warsaw and an IKEA store in Vilnius, the capital of neighboring Lithuania, last year.
The Warsaw fire in May 2024 was 'the result of an act of sabotage, perpetrated by members of an organized crime group acting on behalf of the intelligence agencies of the Russian Federation,' a statement read.
The group operated in Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine and Russia, it added.
The three men were sentenced to one year and four months, 2.5 years and 5.5 years at a court in Warsaw.
Their actions consisted of 'setting fire to large-scale retail centers situated in European Union member states, with the intention of causing the severe intimidation of a large number of people, and consequently, influencing public opinion,' prosecutors said.
On Tuesday, the Polish authorities said 55 people suspected of acting on behalf of Moscow had been detained since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Poland has since then repeatedly accused Russia of being behind a number of acts and attempted acts of sabotage, including fires across the country and in the capital.
Russia has consistently rejected those claims.
In retaliation, Poland has imposed restrictions on the movements of Russian diplomats on its soil and ordered the closure of two Russian consulates, in the western city of Poznan, and in Krakow, in the south.
Poland, an EU and NATO member, has borders with Ukraine, as well as Kremlin ally Belarus and Russia's Kaliningrad exclave, and is one of the main countries through which Western powers ship arms and ammunition to Kyiv.
The conviction of the three men is part of a wider investigation, notably into fires at two shopping centers in Warsaw and an IKEA store in Vilnius, the capital of neighboring Lithuania, last year.
The Warsaw fire in May 2024 was 'the result of an act of sabotage, perpetrated by members of an organized crime group acting on behalf of the intelligence agencies of the Russian Federation,' a statement read.
The group operated in Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine and Russia, it added.
The three men were sentenced to one year and four months, 2.5 years and 5.5 years at a court in Warsaw.
Their actions consisted of 'setting fire to large-scale retail centers situated in European Union member states, with the intention of causing the severe intimidation of a large number of people, and consequently, influencing public opinion,' prosecutors said.
On Tuesday, the Polish authorities said 55 people suspected of acting on behalf of Moscow had been detained since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Poland has since then repeatedly accused Russia of being behind a number of acts and attempted acts of sabotage, including fires across the country and in the capital.
Russia has consistently rejected those claims.
In retaliation, Poland has imposed restrictions on the movements of Russian diplomats on its soil and ordered the closure of two Russian consulates, in the western city of Poznan, and in Krakow, in the south.
Poland, an EU and NATO member, has borders with Ukraine, as well as Kremlin ally Belarus and Russia's Kaliningrad exclave, and is one of the main countries through which Western powers ship arms and ammunition to Kyiv.
