Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on Thursday that authorities have arrested a Russian individual allegedly hired by Moscow to assassinate a Ukrainian-American in Poland. Tusk described the targeted individual as “someone inconvenient to the Putin regime.”
The arrest took place on Friday, with the suspect being apprehended in Warsaw, according to a report from Reuters. Tusk praised the efforts of the Polish Internal Security Agency and the police, stating, “Thanks to their brilliant action, we detained a Russian citizen recruited by Russian intelligence services.” He noted that the target holds both Ukrainian and U.S. citizenship, and emphasized that they were able to prevent a serious attack at the last moment.
This incident marks a significant event, as Tusk mentioned it is the first known case where someone connected to Russia attempted to attack an American citizen within the borders of another NATO country. Tomasz Siemoniak, Poland’s minister responsible for intelligence services, added that the operation was conducted in cooperation with U.S. intelligence agencies.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, the Associated Press has reported around 200 incidents of sabotage and other disturbances across Europe, many of which have been linked to Russia. Despite this, President Vladimir Putin claimed earlier in May that Russia is not conducting a sabotage campaign in Europe.
In related news, Tusk recalled a previous incident in June when a Russian artist critical of Putin was fatally shot in Poland, suggesting it resembled a political assassination. Although Polish officials have not officially connected this killing to Russia, there were ongoing concerns about the safety of critics of the Kremlin.
Additionally, authorities in other European countries have foiled plots targeting individuals who oppose the Russian government. Last year, French officials disrupted a plan aimed at a Russian exile and officials in Germany have dismantled two plots—one against a German weapons manufacturer supplying Ukraine and another against a Ukrainian military official.
This recent arrest highlights the ongoing tensions in Europe and the threats posed by Russian activities beyond its borders.
