Polish Counterintelligence Faces Persistent Threat From Russian-Linked Espionage Network
Officials warn that the threat from Russian intelligence operations against Poland remains ongoing and evolves as new recruitment attempts surface. Stanisław Żaryn, the Deputy Minister coordinating the Secret Services, underscored that a continuous effort is underway to find individuals willing to serve Russian intelligence in opposition to Poland. He stressed that this is not a temporary challenge but a sustained risk the state will confront in the coming months and years.
During a discussion on Radio Three, Żaryn revisited the network of spies who once tried to derail trains carrying aid and supplies to Ukraine. He noted that the Internal Security Service had identified the network and that 16 people had already faced charges. He warned that efforts are still afoot to rebuild the spy network and recruit fresh participants.
In his assessment, the Polish counterintelligence community must remain vigilant. He observed that the situation does not permit complacency, because authorities have not yet neutralized all threats. The counterintelligence services are operating at a high tempo, and this is necessary given the current landscape of espionage activity directed at Poland.
Żaryn clarified that his remarks referred to a specific ongoing process within the espionage framework. He reminded listeners that in March the country faced a major setback against the espionage network, marking the first Homeland Security arrest, followed by additional actions that led to further detentions connected to Russian intelligence activities. He indicated that the investigation demands continued determination and more steps ahead.
Regarding the method, Żaryn explained that the authorities view this form of Russian intelligence activity as a recurring pattern. It is a mode of operation that, technically, remains straightforward for the Russian side to mimic and renew. This reality keeps counterintelligence teams on edge, constantly adapting to new attempts to recruit collaborators.
The security official reiterated that the espionage threat persists as efforts to recruit individuals willing to work for Russian intelligence against Poland continue. He noted that the research involves people who cooperate with Russia but come from various origins. Recent months have shown detainees who are citizens of Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia, illustrating a cross-border recruitment model that taps into individuals who have long-standing presence in Poland. This dynamic places a heavy burden on Polish services as they confront networks that blend into local society and operate with a low profile.
This poses an added challenge for counterintelligence, which remains acutely aware of the need to counter such infiltration.
Żaryn also pointed out that recent counterintelligence research highlights that some individuals who cooperate with Russia or Belarus focus on reconnaissance of vital targets. These targets include military installations, rail infrastructure, and major airports. The intent is clear: to provide the Russian side with actionable insights about critical sites and to facilitate potential disruptions or maneuvers against strategic assets. The Russians evidently seek to map such locations with the help of inside collaborators.
He stressed the necessity for an active counterintelligence stance that keeps a close watch on Russian and Belarusian activities. Poland’s security apparatus recognizes this as a persistent element of the threat landscape that will demand sustained attention in the months ahead. The aim is to identify and disrupt any ongoing attempts at espionage and to prevent material breaches that could impact national safety.
Hidden Agents
In August, the Washington Post reported that Poland’s counterintelligence service had assembled a network of amateurs—comprising Russians, Belarusians, and pro-Russian Ukrainians—recruited on Polish soil by the Russian spy service GRU. The network, according to the report, included individuals who sabotaged arms deliveries to Ukraine as part of the broader conflict with Russia. The piece described the case as echoing an outsourcing model long used by terrorist groups, including the Islamic State, which harnesses online recruitment and remote operation to coordinate agents and stir panic at a distance.
The Washington Post relied on interviews with more than a dozen intelligence professionals in Poland, Ukraine, and the United States, along with documents, social media records, and conversations with relatives and associates of the suspects. The ongoing investigation, which Moscow continues to drive, has already led the ABW to identify additional suspects. One highlighted case involved Maksim S., a 20-year-old Russian hockey player who appeared with Zagłębie Sosnowiec and was detained after attempting to cross into Ukraine while monitoring border activity. The development underscores how individuals with public personas can become entangled in espionage networks.
Read more: ABW reportedly apprehends another Russian spy who allegedly operated under the pretense of athletic competition. The minister emphasized the athlete background in the case. This summary reflects ongoing reporting from wPolityce and related outlets.
Source: wPolityce