Ukraine’s ambassador to Poland has appealed to his compatriots not to be “drawn into the trap” of carrying out sabotage on behalf of Russia in return for “promises of easy money”.
Vasyl Bodnar’s remarks came in the wake of Polish prosecutors announcing on Friday that they have indicted five people – four Ukrainian citizens and one Russian – with working on behalf of Russian intelligence to send explosive packages around Europe via courier services.
Recent years have also seen many other Ukrainians recruited by Russia – often through online messaging service Telegram – to carry out acts of sabotage, espionage, propaganda and disinformation in Poland. They are then paid using cryptocurrencies.
“I appeal to all Ukrainians: do not fall for promises of easy money,” wrote Bodnar in a social media post on Friday.
“The Russian security services are attempting to recruit and involve [people] in sabotage actions via the internet and messengers, in particular Telegram,” he continued. “Do not let yourself be drawn into the trap.”
“Every decision you make matters. Every action you take matters. Act with awareness. Let the world see our strength, resilience, and dignity. That is what helps us protect our future.”
In his post, Bodnar also noted that the Ukrainian authorities had helped in identifying and detaining the people who were indicted in Poland on Friday. If convicted, they could face life imprisonment.
The group is accused of sending four parcels containing incendiary devices along with flammable and explosive substances hidden within everyday items, such as massage pillows and cosmetics.
The items were sent through courier companies DHL and DPD to addresses in Warsaw, Poland, as well as London and Birmingham in the United Kingdom.
In July 2024, three of the packages combusted: one at a DHL warehouse in Birmingham Airport, one in a DHL container at Leipzig Airport (where it was on its way to London), and one in a lorry while it was being transported on a Polish road.
Last October, the minister in charge of Poland’s security services, Tomasz Siemoniak, similarly appealed to Ukrainians – who are by far Poland’s largest immigrant group, numbering around 1.5 million – not to give in to the temptation of earning money by carrying out espionage or sabotage on behalf of Russia.
In November, Polish prosecutors filed charges against a Russian man whom they accuse of orchestrating a sabotage network in Poland, made up mostly of Ukrainians, by using Telegram to order surveillance of military sites, sabotage, and the dissemination of pro-Russian propaganda.
In December, Poland’s Internal Security Agency (ABW) launched a chatbot on Telegram that allows users of the platform to report acts of sabotage as well as attempts to recruit them by foreign intelligence agencies.
Posted by BubsyFanboy
1 Comment
!ping POLAND&EUROPE
**1. Why is this relevant for** r/neoliberal **?**
This is relevant to Polish and Ukrainian politics, infrastructure and immigrants/refugees.
**2. What do you think people should discuss about it?**
Thou shall discuss the situation of Ukrainians in Poland, Russia’s bribes for terrorism and how government try to prevent terrorism.
**2a. What do you think of the issue at hand?**
Glad you’re finally addressing it, but I really don’t think your words will do much. As you said, it’s easy money, even if risky and morally dubious at best.