Tomasz Siemoniak was speaking after Poland’s Internal Security Agency (ABW) detained eight people suspected of preparing acts of sabotage on orders from Russian intelligence.
“The Internal Security Agency, working with other services, has detained eight people in different parts of the country, suspected of preparing acts of sabotage," Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Tuesday.
"The case is ongoing. Further operational steps are under way,” he wrote on the X platform.
Siemoniak, the government minister in charge of security services, called the plot “a form of terrorism” and said the Internal Security Agency is leading the investigation as a national security matter.
In a televised interview earlier this week, he said Russian acts of sabotage included attempted arson, explosions and other disruptive actions designed to cause damage and sow discord.
He said those detained were "acting at the direction of a foreign state."
Officials said last week’s operation involved cooperation with Romania’s intelligence service.
A 21-year-old Ukrainian citizen, identified only as Danylo H., was detained in Poland, and two other Ukrainians linked to him were held in Romania, according to Jacek Dobrzyński, spokesman for Poland's security services.
He added that in recent months the Internal Security Agency has detained a total of 55 people accused of acting against Poland on behalf of Russia.
Siemoniak said the government is weighing options for a response to Russia. He added that he had discussed the issue with Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, and pointed to earlier closures of Russian consulates in Poland as an example of measures taken in such cases.
Siemoniak cited an earlier attempt to send, via a courier company, explosive parcels with full triggering systems which he said could have detonated on an aircraft or at a logistics base.
He said the past few weeks have brought a spike in activity, with the eight suspects connected to three cases and detained in a short period of time.
'Single-use, paid agents'
Siemoniak described those recruited for sabotage as “single-use, paid agents,” often foreigners promised relatively small sums of money.
He said they knew who was directing them and that Russian services would not later seek their release.
He urged anyone approached with such offers to seriously weight up the risk of prison, as well as the moral cost.
The minister appealed to the public to report suspicious activity, such as photographing military sites or critical infrastructure, to the police and security staff.
He said Poland’s Internal Security Agency, the Military Counterintelligence Service, and the police are working effectively with allies.
He also referred to other actions authorities are examining, such as a spate of recent arson incidents, including the May 2024 fire which devastated the Marywilska 44 shopping centre in Warsaw, totally destroying some 1400 shops, wholesalers and food and service outlets.
Siemoniak called the Russian actions “absolutely unacceptable,” noting that Russia has in recent years carried out successful assassination operations in Western countries and that such actions were ordered deliberately by Moscow.
(rt/gs)
Source: TVN24, PAP