Poland has detained two Ukrainian nationals in Katowice charged with collecting details of soldiers and critical infrastructure for foreign intelligence as Warsaw cracks down on alleged espionage by Russia and Belarus.
Tomasz Siemoniak, Minister in Charge of Special Services said the two Ukrainians were among eight people whose detention by Poland and Romania was announced last week.
Siemoniak said, “This is evidence that we are witnessing an intensification of sabotage activities and preparations for sabotage cases.”
Poland’s Internal Security Agency (ABW) said the two Ukrainian citizens, aged 32 and 34, were detained in the southern city of Katowice on October 14.
The ABW said in a statement that “the suspects had allegedly collected information about members of the Polish Armed Forces and infrastructure related to efforts to support Ukraine.
The suspects also carried out “contracts for foreign intelligence, including reconnaissance of Poland’s military potential, installation of devices for covert monitoring of critical infrastructure”.
The suspects are to be kept in custody for three months while they await trial.
REUTERS