A Ukrainian man and a Belarusian man have been sentenced to prison by the District Court in Lublin for their involvement in a Russian espionage ring that aimed to disrupt military aid to Ukraine. The Ukrainian, Maksym L., was sentenced to six years in prison, while Belarusian Uladzislau P. received two years and ten months. Both were also fined and ordered to remain in custody due to concerns that they might flee the country.
The court found that the men were part of an organized crime group acting on behalf of Russian intelligence. The group’s operations included installing cameras along key railway lines and monitoring airports to track military and humanitarian aid being transported to Ukraine.
Espionage and Sabotage Plans
According to the court, the group’s activities were coordinated by a man known as “Andrei,” who communicated with the spies through the messaging app Telegram. Andrei had devised a plot to derail a military supply train headed for Ukraine in exchange for $10,000. However, this plan was not carried out.
Maksym L. and Uladzislau P. were accused of placing recording devices along critical railway lines to monitor the movement of military supplies to Ukraine. They also surveilled key locations such as the airports in Jasionka and Gdynia-Kosakowo, as well as the railway station in Rzeszów and Polish ports in Gdańsk and Gdynia. Their surveillance helped Russian intelligence estimate the types and quantities of aid being sent to Ukraine.
Criminal Charges and Sentencing
Maksym L., 23, and Uladzislau P., 30, were found guilty of espionage, aiding in sabotage, and being part of a criminal group. Maksym L. was also convicted of drug possession, which added to his sentence. The court seized financial assets from both men, including 20,500 zł from Maksym L. and 8,200 zł from Uladzislau P., which they had earned from their illegal activities.
The group they belonged to operated in Poland from January to June 2023, and its members were recruited from Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia. Polish authorities uncovered the espionage activities through an investigation led by the Internal Security Agency (ABW) and the National Prosecutor’s Office in Lublin.
The investigation revealed that the group was not only focused on espionage but also on misinformation campaigns. They distributed anti-NATO and anti-Ukrainian propaganda through graffiti and pamphlets, as part of a broader disinformation effort designed to undermine public support for Ukraine and its allies.
Larger Espionage Network
The ABW’s investigation indicated that 16 people were involved in the spy network, most of whom have been arrested and charged. The group was reportedly in contact with several individuals using aliases such as “Barbados,” “Pink,” and “Mara,” and was led by the mysterious Andrei, who orchestrated many of their activities.
The case against Maksym L. and Uladzislau P. is not the first to come from this group. Several other members have already been sentenced, receiving prison terms ranging from one to six years.
A Serious Threat
The court stressed the severity of the group’s actions, noting that their activities posed a direct threat to Poland’s national security and the broader efforts to support Ukraine in its war against Russia. The verdict, though not yet final, sends a clear message about Poland’s stance on espionage and sabotage on behalf of foreign powers.
