{
  "id": 13966694,
  "title": "Four go on trial in Warsaw over arson attacks carried out on Russian orders",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/four-go-on-trial-in-warsaw-over-arson-attacks-carried-out-on-russian",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-12T13:25:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Notes from Poland",
    "slug": "notes-from-poland",
    "url": "https://notesfrompoland.com/2026/10/12/four-go-on-trial-in-warsaw-over-arson-attacks-carried-out-on-russian-orders/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Four individuals, consisting of three Ukrainians and one Belarusian, are currently facing trial in Warsaw on charges related to a series of arson attacks allegedly carried out at the behest of Russian intelligence. The accused, whose identities are being withheld under Polish privacy laws, are Oleksandr H., Stepan K., Vitalii K., and Pavlo T. The trial is being held in secret due to security concerns.\n\nAccording to Polish prosecutors, the group was part of a criminal organization tasked with committing acts of sabotage and terrorism on behalf of Russia's foreign intelligence service. The attacks targeted major retail stores, including Warsaw's largest shopping center, Marywilska 44; an OBI store; and an IKEA store in Vilnius. There were also plans for an attack on an IKEA store in Riga, Latvia.\n\nThe indictment issued against the men in March alleges that Stepan K., the Belarusian suspect, was responsible for setting fire to the OBI store. Oleksandr H. is accused of involvement in the attack on the IKEA store in Vilnius and of planning further attacks. They are charged under Poland's espionage law for carrying out acts of sabotage and terrorism on behalf of foreign intelligence, which carries a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, with the possibility of a life sentence.\n\nAdditionally, all four suspects are charged with participating in an organized criminal group that aimed to carry out terrorist offenses. Vitalii K. and Pavlo T. face extra charges related to a separate assault in Wólka Kosowska, a village outside Warsaw. Pavlo T. was previously convicted in Poland for his role in the same criminal group, along with two other Ukrainian men, and sentenced to between 16 months and 5.5 years in prison.\n\nTwo other alleged members of the group, Serhii Chalyi and Oleksandr Varyvoda, who were involved in coordinating sabotage activities, are still at large. The report by the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism highlights Poland as the primary target of Russian sabotage in Europe. Most recently, Poland accused Russia of being behind a fire at a drone factory supplying the militaries of Poland and Ukraine. Ukraine has also been accused of using explosives to derail a train in Poland, with the acts of sabotage typically carried out by Ukrainians and Belarusians, rather than Russians, who are often recruited by these nations to carry out such actions.",
  "summary": "The gang targeted large commercial premises in Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}