Poland issues arrest warrant for former soldier spreading Russian disinformation on TikTok

Polish prosecutors have charged a former serviceman with espionage for allegedly joining Russian forces and spreading Kremlin disinformation on social media.

Polish authorities have issued an arrest warrant for a former member of the armed forces accused of joining Russia’s army and conducting pro-Kremlin disinformation campaigns on TikTok. According to Notes from Poland, prosecutors say the case highlights how social media platforms are being exploited as tools in Russia’s wider hybrid war against Poland and its allies.

The announcement was made by the District Prosecutor’s Office in Kraków, which confirmed that the suspect has been charged with espionage and unlawful service in a foreign military.

Charges linked to Russian intelligence activity

According to prosecutors, the former soldier is suspected of “participating in the activities of a foreign intelligence service, namely the Russian Federation,” and acting on its behalf by spreading disinformation online. The allegations include the deliberate dissemination of false and misleading content intended to “cause serious disruption to the political system of the Republic of Poland.”

The man allegedly operated a TikTok channel titled PolaknaDonbasie (“A Pole in Donbas”), where he promoted pro-Russian narratives, shared his decision to fight on Russia’s side against Ukraine, and encouraged hostile attitudes toward Poland’s government and its Western allies.

Suspect believed to be in Russia

A district court in Kraków approved a request for the suspect’s pre-trial detention. However, prosecutors said he is “likely to be residing” in Russia, prompting the issuance of an arrest warrant.

The investigation, initially supervised by the military affairs division of the prosecutor’s office, has now been transferred to Poland’s Internal Security Agency (ABW), which handles counter-espionage and national security cases.

Background and online reach

Polish media report that the suspect, identified as Dariusz M. under Polish privacy laws, previously served in the Polish Armed Forces before leaving the country. He reportedly joined Russian forces in 2023, first as a volunteer and later as a contracted soldier after obtaining Russian citizenship.

His TikTok account has gathered several thousand followers and published hundreds of videos since late 2025. Fact-checkers note that earlier accounts linked to him had significantly higher reach before being blocked by the platform. Some of his videos allegedly attracted millions of views, amplifying anti-Ukrainian and anti-EU messaging.

In recorded statements, the former soldier praised Russia’s so-called “special military operation,” referred to the European Union as a “Fourth Reich,” and urged Poles to photograph military transports heading toward Ukraine, content prosecutors say aligns closely with Russian intelligence objectives.

Part of a broader pattern

Polish officials see the case as part of a wider campaign of Russian hybrid actions targeting Poland, including espionage, sabotage, and coordinated disinformation. In recent years, Warsaw has detained and charged dozens of individuals accused of acting on Moscow’s behalf.

Authorities have repeatedly warned that social media platforms are a key vector for such operations, allowing hostile actors to reach large audiences quickly while masking their ties to foreign intelligence services.

If convicted, the former soldier faces up to eight years in prison for espionage-related offenses and up to five years for serving in a foreign military. While his presence in Russia makes extradition unlikely, Polish officials say issuing the warrant is essential to document the crime and signal zero tolerance for collaboration with hostile intelligence services.