Exposed: Russian spies in Poland tasked with derailing trains with aid to Ukraine - media

One of the tasks of the Russian espionage ring, which was exposed in Poland this year, was acts of sabotage on the railways, including planting bombs to derail trains carrying military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine.

This was reported by Gazeta Polska, which covered the case probed by the Internal Security Agency and the Polish Prosecutor's Office targeting the Russian spy network, Ukrinform reports.

"From March to July, a total of 15 people were detained and charged with espionage for the Russian GRU military intelligence. They face up to 10 years in prison," the report says.

The newspaper notes the fact that this is the largest Russian spy ring ever exposed in Poland. It consisted of citizens of Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine.

As noted, the investigation is being run by the National Prosecutor's Office in Lublin. In total, 66 volumes have already been collected in the case. Those detained have testified that among other things, they had been planning to blow up trains carrying weapons and humanitarian aid for Ukraine.

"The risk of terrorist attacks was too great to just continue monitoring the group," the publication notes.

It is emphasized that the members of the spy network received tasks directly from Moscow, also receiving rewards in cryptocurrency, most often in bitcoins, which was then exchanged for cash.

"Members of the espionage network, commissioned by the Russians, were not only supposed to gather intelligence, photograph military and civilian objects, incite anti-Ukrainian and anti-NATO sentiments, but also to prepare acts of sabotage," the publication emphasizes.

Gazeta Polska notes that the spy network was created early this year, just 12 months into the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.