Polish authorities have arrested a Russian national accused of being recruited by Russian intelligence services to assassinate a Ukrainian-American citizen in Warsaw, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Thursday. The suspect was detained on August 7 after Polish security officials and police intervened before the alleged attack could take place.
The targeted individual, who holds both Ukrainian and U.S. citizenship, was described by Tusk as someone considered a problem for the Kremlin. Polish officials did not disclose the person’s identity or provide further details about the alleged assassination plan.
Russian National Allegedly Recruited for Assassination
Tusk said the detained Russian citizen had allegedly been recruited by Russian intelligence services to carry out the killing in Warsaw. Polish authorities intervened at the final stage of the alleged operation, preventing what the prime minister described as an attempted execution.
The arrest was carried out by Poland’s Internal Security Agency and police. Tomasz Siemoniak, the Polish minister responsible for intelligence services, said the operation was conducted in cooperation with U.S. intelligence agencies.
The Russian Embassy in Warsaw did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Moscow has repeatedly rejected accusations from European governments involving alleged Russian attacks and covert operations, arguing that Western countries are encouraging anti-Russian sentiment.
Tusk Calls the Case Unprecedented on NATO Territory
Polish officials said the case has particular significance because the alleged target was an American citizen and the incident took place in Poland, a NATO member.
Tusk said this was the first known situation in which an individual acting on Russian orders attempted to attack an American citizen on the territory of another NATO country. He warned that European governments should be prepared for similar threats in the future.
The alleged plot comes amid growing concerns among European governments about Russian espionage, sabotage and targeted attacks outside Russia. Western officials have previously linked Moscow to a number of covert operations across Europe since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Broader Security Concerns Across Europe
Poland has become a key security focus in Europe because of its role as a major transit route for military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. Polish authorities have increasingly warned about espionage and other activities they believe are connected to Russian intelligence.
The latest arrest adds to those concerns and highlights the growing cooperation between Polish and U.S. security agencies. Officials have not released information about the alleged motive beyond describing the Ukrainian-American target as someone considered “inconvenient” to the Putin government.
