Warsaw has announced the arrest of six individuals suspected of conducting espionage for Moscow and supplying the Russian military with components used in ammunition and weapons systems. The detentions, confirmed on Thursday by Poland's internal security agency (ABW), mark the latest in a series of counter-intelligence operations along NATO's eastern flank.
Among those held are five Polish citizens aged between 25 and 52, as well as a 37-year-old Russian national, according to Tomasz Siemoniak, the coordinator of Poland's special services. Writing on X, Siemoniak said the group had been active since June 2023 and had been purchasing and transporting military-grade components across the border into Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast.
Four suspects, including the Russian, have been formally charged with espionage and placed in pre-trial detention for three months. The ABW said the group is believed to have illegally supplied Russia with significant quantities of components for military use, particularly in the production of ammunition and weapons systems. The charges also include violations of regulations governing the international trade in goods and technologies of strategic importance for national defence and international security.
Cross-border smuggling operation
According to the investigation, the criminal scheme ran from June 2023 until December 2025. The group's activities spanned Poland, Lithuania, and Russia, with members responsible for ordering and purchasing goods, arranging their collection, and transporting them across the border into the Kaliningrad Oblast. To avoid detection, the suspects used vehicles equipped with hidden compartments and crossed the Polish-Russian border on numerous occasions. Some of the goods were intercepted by Polish border authorities.
The illegally traded items included ammunition components such as shell casings and projectiles. The prosecutor's office estimates the total value of the components purchased and transported to Russia exceeded 2 million Polish Złoty (€455,430).
Poland, a key supporter of neighbouring Ukraine in its war against Russia, has repeatedly accused Moscow of sabotage since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Polish territory serves as the main transit route for Western military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, making it a prime target for Russian intelligence operations.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that Poland had foiled a possible provocation during the night at the border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. The latest arrests come amid heightened concerns about Russian espionage across Europe, including recent incidents such as the Baltic cable sabotage case in Finland.
The ABW is now conducting further investigation to establish the full extent of the group's activities. Four of the suspects have also been charged with acting for the benefit of Russian intelligence against the Republic of Poland.
These arrests underscore the ongoing threat posed by Russian intelligence networks within EU and NATO member states. As Europe grapples with military readiness challenges, such operations highlight the need for vigilance and cooperation among allied security services.
