Poland says it arrested Russian hired to kill 'inconvenient' Ukrainian-American citizen

Poland announced on Thursday that it had arrested a Russian man who had been hired by the Kremlin to assassinate a Ukrainian-American citizen in the capital, Warsaw. Prime Minister Donald Tusk revealed the arrest to journalists, stating that the suspect had been detained on August 7. According to Tusk, the Russian had been recruited by Russian intelligence services to eliminate a man who was deemed inconvenient to the Putin regime. The embassy of Russia in Warsaw did not comment on the development when contacted by email.

Tusk emphasized that the arrest was a result of "truly brilliant action" by Poland's security agencies, who prevented the alleged killing from taking place. The identity of the targeted individual was not disclosed by Tusk, but he confirmed that the victim held both Ukrainian and US passports. The arrest was described by Tusk as having been made "at the last minute," underscoring the urgency of the operation.

Poland's actions come amid ongoing tensions between Russia and the West, with Moscow frequently denying allegations of aggressive behavior. In a separate incident last June, a Russian artist who had criticized President Vladimir Putin was shot dead in Biala Podlaska, a town in eastern Poland. The Polish government has suggested that its position as a key transit point for military and other supplies to Ukraine has made it a frequent target for Russian espionage and potential attacks.