Poland arrests 4 accused of spying for Russia

Polish authorities said Thursday that they had arrested six people over alleged military component shipments to Russia, four of whom have been charged with espionage.

Investigators said the group illegally supplied Moscow with significant quantities of parts used to manufacture ammunition and weapons systems despite an embargo.

Four suspects, including the Russian woman, were charged with espionage and placed in pretrial detention for three months, Poland's Internal Security Agency (ABW) said. The other two are subject to non-custodial restrictions.

All six also face allegations of violating rules governing international trade in goods and technologies of strategic importance to national defense and international security.

"Russia is subject to a strict embargo in this area, and this operation was designed to circumvent it," Siemoniak told reporters.

The suspects are five Poles aged 25 to 52 and a 37-year-old Russian woman, intelligence coordinator Tomasz Siemoniak said.

Poland, an EU and NATO member, is a major supporter of Ukraine and the main transit route for Western military and humanitarian aid to the country.

Siemoniak said nearly 100 people had been charged in ABW espionage and sabotage investigations since January 1, 2024.

Warsaw has repeatedly accused Russia of sabotage since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Poland had foiled a possible provocation at its border with Russia's Kaliningrad exclave.

The Russian Embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Kremlin has consistently denied conducting sabotage operations in NATO countries.