Poland arrests Russian man for alleged assassination plot against US-Ukrainian national, Tusk says
"This marks the first instance where someone, acting on Russian orders, has attempted to assassinate an American citizen on the territory of another NATO country," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.
Polish authorities have arrested a Russian man, reportedly working under Russian special services instructions, for allegedly plotting to assassinate a U.S.-Ukrainian national in Warsaw, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on August 13. The detainment occurred on August 7, in collaboration with Polish security services, police, and U.S. authorities.
This marks the first time a Russian-directed individual has attempted to kill an American citizen on NATO soil, according to Tusk. He further stated that the individual targeted in the thwarted assassination was an "embarrassment" to the Putin regime. Tusk emphasized that Poland and other NATO members must brace for similar threats in the future, as they are likely to face such pressure.
The exact identity of the suspect and the target remains undisclosed by Tusk. The announcement by Poland comes as heightened concern over potential Russian provocations on NATO territories, with recent U.S. intelligence reports suggesting that Russian President Vladimir Putin may initiate a limited attack against a NATO member as early as fall 2026.
Europe and NATO already contend with threats stemming from Russia's hybrid warfare, including cyberattacks, drone incursions, espionage, and election interference. Additionally, Russia has been implicated in multiple assassination attempts, such as one targeting Armin Papperger, the CEO of German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
