A Polish man has been arrested in Poland on allegations of being ready to help Russia’s military intelligence in an alleged plot to assassinate Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Polish prosecutors said Thursday.
The office of Poland’s National Prosecutor said in a statement that the man was seeking contact with Russians directly involved in the war in Ukraine and was expected to pass on detailed information about the Rzeszow-Jasionka airport in south-eastern Poland, near the border with Ukraine, which is the gateway for international military and humanitarian supplies for Ukraine. The airport is under the control of U.S. troops.
If convicted, the man could face up to eight years in prison, the statement said.
European Union member Poland has been a staunch supporter of neighbouring Ukraine and Zelenskyy in fending off Russia’s aggression of more than two years.
Meanwhile two alleged spies have been arrested in Germany, one of them accused of agreeing to attack US military facilities and other targets in a bid to sabotage aid for Ukraine, federal prosecutors said today.
The two men, described as dual German-Russian nationals and identified only as Dieter S and Alexander J, were arrested on Wednesday in the Bavarian city of Bayreuth.
Since October, Dieter S is alleged to have been discussing possible acts of sabotage in Germany with a person linked to Russian intelligence, with the main aim being to undermine military support for Ukraine.
The suspect declared himself willing to carry out bombing and arson attacks on infrastructure used by the military and industrial sites, prosecutors said in a statement, adding that he had gathered information on potential targets, including US bases.
Dieter S also faces separate allegation of serving in pro-Russian separatist forces in eastern Ukraine between December 2014 and September 2016.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said that Russia’s ambassador had been summoned to the Foreign Ministry.
“We will continue to give Ukraine massive support and will not let ourselves be intimidated,” she said.
Zelensky Ukraine