A Russian citizen was arrested in Poland on charges of espionage. The 55-year-old was apprehended by police while photographing the country's rail infrastructure at an unguarded railway crossing in the city of Świdnica, located in southwestern Poland.
Details of the Arrest
Police stated in a statement that officers encountered this individual while patrolling after a football match. He was photographing trains passing through the crossing. Security officials noted that "everything indicates that the photos he took may be used against national security."
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Initial investigations suggest that this individual systematically photographed strategic infrastructure. Police have uncovered a large amount of evidence, including various photos of important communication sites and facilities. According to Łukasz Dutkowiak, spokesperson for the Lower Silesian police, these photos contain information not only from Poland.
Investigations and Consequences
Prosecutors are now examining "espionage activities for foreign intelligence against the Republic of Poland." Poland faced several sabotage attacks against its military and rail infrastructure last year. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk accused Ukrainians of collaborating with Russian services after an attack in November 2025 that damaged a railway line near the Poland-Ukraine border.
In late August, fires occurred at a drone component manufacturing plant in Skarżysko-Kamienna and an aircraft parts manufacturing facility in Lublin. In September, a Starlink communication station near Warsaw caught fire. In response to these attacks, Tusk stated, "Russia doesn't even need to cross our border; they are already waging a hybrid war against us through drones, sabotage actions, and misinformation on the internet."
European officials have pointed to an increase in sabotage attacks from Russia in recent months. They claim that Vladimir Putin is seeking to disrupt military support for Ukraine and increase the political costs of supporting Kyiv.
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