Russian citizen faces spying charges in Poland after photographing railways
The suspect was arrested while taking pictures at an unguarded railway crossing.
A 55-year-old Russian citizen has been charged with espionage in Poland after being photographed taking pictures of the country's railway infrastructure. The incident occurred in Świdnica, southwestern Poland, during a post-football match police patrol. Authorities allege that the photos could jeopardize national security, as they found extensive evidence of the man systematically photographing strategic facilities, including some located outside Poland. Łukasz Dutkowiak, a spokesperson for Lower Silesian police, stated that the man's actions indicate a pattern of targeting critical communication infrastructure.
Polish prosecutors are now investigating the man's activities as potential foreign intelligence operations against the Republic of Poland. Poland has experienced several sabotage attacks on its military and railway systems in the past year, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk blaming Ukrainian nationals for cooperating with Russian services following multiple incidents, including attacks on a rail line near the Polish-Ukrainian border and targeted strikes on industrial facilities.
Tusk emphasized that Russia is waging a hybrid war against Poland through sabotage, drone operations, and disinformation campaigns, without needing to cross its borders. European officials have also noted a recent increase in such sabotage attacks, driven by President Vladimir Putin's efforts to undermine military support for Ukraine and increase the political cost of backing the Ukrainian government.
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