Poland arrests Russian citizen over alleged plot to kill Ukrainian American in Warsaw

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on Thursday that Polish authorities arrested a Russian citizen on 7 August who was allegedly recruited by Russian intelligence services to kill a Ukrainian American citizen in Warsaw, with the operation conducted in cooperation with U.S. services.

Tusk described the targeted individual as someone who was 'uncomfortable for the Putin regime' and, according to The Straits Times, held both Ukrainian and U.S. passports. He did not disclose further details about the person's identity.

Tomasz Siemoniak, Poland's minister coordinating secret services, confirmed that the operation was carried out in cooperation with U.S. services and described the targeted victim as a U.S. citizen 'of Ukrainian origin.'

Tusk characterised the arrest as the first known instance of Russia ordering an attack on an American citizen on the territory of another NATO country.

Tusk was quoted by The Straits Times as saying: 'At the last minute, thanks to the action of the Internal Security Agency and the police, we managed to prevent this execution, this attack.'

According to The Straits Times, in June a Russian artist critical of President Vladimir Putin was shot and killed in the eastern Polish town of Biala Podlaska, with prosecutors confirming the incident. The Straits Times also notes that Poland regards its role as a hub for military and other supplies to neighbouring Ukraine as having made it a target for Russian espionage and attacks.

According to The Straits Times, the Russian embassy in Warsaw did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and Moscow has regularly dismissed accusations by European governments of orchestrating attacks, characterising such allegations as the West stoking anti-Russian paranoia.

• The identity of the targeted Ukrainian American individual has not been disclosed by any source.
• The identity of the arrested Russian citizen has not been provided.
• The specific nature of the alleged plot and the methods the suspect reportedly intended to use are not detailed in any source.
• The precise role and extent of U.S. services' cooperation in the operation has not been elaborated upon.
• No official Russian government response to this specific arrest has been reported.
• Whether the arrested individual has been charged, and under what legal provisions, is not established by any source.
• A direct connection, if any, between this case and the June killing of a Russian artist in Biala Podlaska has not been established by any source.

1. The Independent — original — by Via AP news wire
2. The Straits Times — by The Straits Times
3. Associated Press — by Claudia Ciobanu

Read the original at The Independent

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