Poland detains Russian agent planning assassination attempt on Zelenskyy

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) press service reported the information.

According to the investigation, the suspect, on his own initiative, established contact with representatives of the Russian Armed Forces Command and informed them of his readiness to work for the Russian military intelligence.

His tasks included collecting and sending to the aggressor country information about the security of Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport in Poland. Among other things, this was to help the Russian special services plan a possible assassination attempt on the life of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his stay in Poland.

Ukrainian prosecutors and SBU officers informed their Polish counterparts about the possible criminal offense and handed over key evidence in the case as part of international legal assistance.

Due to successful measures and prompt exchange of information between the two countries, the recruited agent of the Russian special services was identified and detained in Poland. The Polish prosecutor's office charged the detainee with willingness to act in favor of a foreign intelligence service.

On April 18, 2024, the District Court of Warsaw imposed a measure of restraint in the form of temporary arrest.

What Ukraine's military intelligence says

Andriy Yusov, a representative of the Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate, said during the telethon that this was not the first time Russia had attempted to assassinate Zelenskyy.

"This is not the first time this has happened. The fact that the enemy tried this time to assassinate the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and continues to attempt to organize assassination attempts on the military and political leadership of our country, in particular, General Budanov, means that Ukraine is resisting. And the country's leaders and Volodymyr Zelenskyy are a serious threat to the enemy," he said.

"The whole world should understand who we have to deal with. This is not a civilized enemy, this is not a civilized state. These are insidious terrorists who can use various most disgusting and despicable methods that are beyond the scope of warfare in the traditional sense," Yusov added.

CNN reported, citing Polish authorities, that a man named Paweł K was tasked “to help, among other things, in planning by Russian special services a possible attack on the life of the head of a foreign state – President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.”

Polish prosecutors said the man was in contact with Russians who were "directly involved in the war in Ukraine," although it was not clear from official statements whether he had passed on or collected any information.

• In late March, Poland carried out a special operation against a Russian spy network.