A network of Russian agents who performed tasks for the Russian military intelligence (GRU) has been exposed in Poland.
Poland’s Security Agency has established that they have dismantled the “largest Russian intelligence network in history” operating in the country. Russia recruited “unprofessional agents” in Poland, including Ukrainians.
How Russian agents acted in Poland
In early 2023, job offers and housing advice began to appear on Russian-language telegram channels in Poland, which are followed by Ukrainian refugees.
Their assignment from Russian intelligence was to put flyers or graphics in public places. The pay was low, but for some refugees, the promise of a quick buck was too good to pass up.
The so-called work was to put up flyers or signs in public places. The pay was low, but for some refugees, the promise of a quick buck was too good to pass up.
Later, however, people found out that they had to spread pro-Russian propaganda on behalf of an anonymous employer. In particular, they were promised from a couple of dollars for graffiti to $12 for hanging a poster on the street.
The investigator of the Polish Internal Security Agency (ABW) explained that the text of the drawings, leaflets, and banners was approximately as follows:
- “Poland ≠ Ukraine”;
- “NATO, Go Home”;
- “Don’t Be Biden”.
The sources explained that these tasks had two goals: to incite anti-Ukrainian sentiment in Poland and to test the recruits’ readiness to perform the tasks.
In particular, anonymous employers then offered the best-paying tasks, such as train derailments, arson, and murder. Although, according to Polish intelligence services, even these cost several hundred dollars.
The money was paid to the mercenaries in cryptocurrency and bank transfers from untraceable bank accounts.
Agents planned to blow up a railway track while a train with equipment for the Ukrainian Armed Forces was travelling
Railway is Russian target
Agents planned to blow up a railway at the moment when a train with equipment for the Ukrainian Armed Forces was passing.
Investigators identified at least two individuals who agreed to blow up the railway at the moment when a train with military aid for Ukraine, on the Russian intelligence’s order.
Gazeta Polska wrote that the Internal Security Agency (ABW) and the prosecutor’s office had dismantled “the largest Russian intelligence network in history” operating in Poland.
