On Wednesday, May 20, 2026, Poland’s Internal Security Agency (Agencja Bezpieczeństwa Wewnętrznego, ABW) published a press release stating that on May 12 its officers, as part of an investigation conducted under the supervision of the Podlasie Branch Office of the Department for Organized Crime and Corruption of the National Prosecutor’s Office in Białystok, had detained three Polish citizens.
Photos: ABW
Based on materials gathered by ABW officers, the prosecutor charged the detainees with acting on behalf of a foreign intelligence service and providing that service with information whose disclosure could have harmed the Republic of Poland. They were also charged with producing and disseminating propaganda and disinformation materials, preparing to carry out diversionary and sabotage tasks, promoting symbols supporting the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine, and publicly praising that war.
During the investigation conducted by ABW, material was collected indicating that the suspects were actively involved in raising funds to purchase equipment for Russian troops, as well as in providing propaganda support for the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine. Acting on instructions from an identified citizen of the Russian Federation linked to the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, the detainees also carried out intelligence-related activities, including reconnaissance of the deployment of NATO troops stationed on Polish territory. Members of the group were being prepared to carry out diversionary and sabotage tasks through participation in firearms training and battlefield tactics training.
At the request of the prosecutor’s office, the District Court in Białystok imposed a preventive measure on all suspects in the form of three months’ pre-trial detention.
Minister and Coordinator of Special Services Tomasz Siemoniak added that the detainees were men aged 48 to 62 and that the investigation is ongoing.
ABW konsekwentnie identyfikuje i neutralizuje osoby działające na rzecz rosyjskich służb specjalnych.
W ramach kolejnych działań funkcjonariusze Agencji Bezpieczeństwa Wewnętrznego zatrzymali 3 obywateli RP podejrzanych o działalność szpiegowską przeciwko bezpieczeństwu państwa.… pic.twitter.com/XCxuzFqKfT— ABW (@ABW_GOV_PL) May 20, 2026
Funkcjonariusze #ABW, na polecenie Podlaskiego Wydziału Zamiejscowego @PK_GOV_PL zatrzymali 3 osoby podejrzane o działania szpiegowskie na rzecz FR. Zatrzymani to obywatele RP, mężczyźni w wieku od 48 do 62 lat. Zarzuca się im działania wywiadowcze – rozpoznawanie rozmieszczenia…
— Tomasz Siemoniak (@TomaszSiemoniak) May 20, 2026
See also
- Polish Internal Security Agency Report: selected activities in 2024–2025
- Poland: Internal Security Agency Detains Territorial Defence Force soldier on suspicion of espionage for Russia
- Poland: Five people charged with setting fire to shops on behalf of Russian intelligence
- Poland’s Internal Security Agency detains Polish citizens in connection with an arson attack on the territory of the Czech Republic
- Poland’s Internal Security Agency: Two Polish citizens charged with cooperation with Russia and the Islamic State
- Lithuanian and Polish citizens convicted of espionage
- Poland: New information from the Internal Security Agency on the activities of a spy network
- Polish Internal Security Agency detains Ukrainians spying on aid hub for Ukraine
- Polish security services detain eight people preparing sabotage operations
- Poland: Public official indicted for espionage on behalf of Russia
- Belarusian spy arrested in Poland, diplomat expelled
- Russia-backed Colombian behind terror attacks in Poland, according to Polish authorities