Poland detains Russian seeking to assassinate US-Ukrainian citizen in Warsaw

Poland has apprehended a Russian individual allegedly planning to assassinate a person with dual US and Ukrainian citizenship in Warsaw. Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the detention on Thursday, crediting his country's security services for thwarting the plot. Tusk emphasized that this marks the first instance of a Russian agent targeting an American citizen on NATO territory.

Though specifics about the suspect and target remain undisclosed, Tusk revealed that the target posed "inconvenience" for the Russian regime. Poland's Minister of Security Affairs confirmed the news, stating that the operation was carried out jointly with US authorities. The 29-year-old suspect has been charged with murder planning and accepting payment for the murder, both punishable by imprisonment ranging from two to 15 years.

He was placed in pretrial detention. Poland has often been a prime target for Russian hostile actions, including an attempted train derailment in March, a drone violation in June, and a Russian artist's assassination in June. In response, Poland has provided substantial support to Ukraine since the 2022 full-scale invasion.