Key facts
- An 18-year-old Ukrainian national has been charged in Poland with 47 criminal acts.
- The charges include desecrating memorials and preparing drone sabotage.
- Polish authorities allege the acts were carried out on behalf of Russian intelligence.
- The stated aim was to incite ethnic tensions between Poland and Ukraine.
- The suspect allegedly used cryptocurrency payments via Russian and Chinese exchanges for recruitment.
- The Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) was responsible for mass killings of Poles during WWII.
Prosecutors in Poland have charged an 18-year-old Ukrainian man, identified as Illia K., with 47 criminal acts, including desecrating memorials and preparing sabotage, allegedly on behalf of Russian intelligence services. The Internal Security Agency (ABW) stated the objective was to incite ethnic tensions between Poland and Ukraine. The alleged acts occurred between November 2024 and August 2025, leading to his arrest just before a major Polish Armed Forces' Day parade.
The suspect is accused of vandalizing memorials to Polish victims of the Volhynia massacre, an event during World War II where the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) killed tens of thousands of Poles. The ABW also revealed that the suspect allegedly recruited individuals for these crimes, using cryptocurrencies registered in Russia and China for payments, and communicated tasks via a messaging service.
Relations between Poland and Ukraine have been strained by historical grievances, particularly concerning the UPA's legacy. A recent decree by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy naming a military unit after the UPA further exacerbated tensions, leading to a strong reaction from Poland. While some Ukrainians view the UPA as heroes for fighting Soviet occupation, Poles largely condemn them for the mass killings of Polish civilians.