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Poland and Romania Stop Covert Russian Operation to Move Explosives Into Ukraine
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Polish and Romanian authorities have detained three Ukrainian nationals accused of collaborating with Russian intelligence services and attempting to smuggle explosives into Ukraine.
The arrests were announced by Poland’s security agencies and confirmed by government officials on October 21, according to Ukrinform and RFM24.
According to Jacek Dobrzyński, spokesperson for Poland’s Minister-Coordinator of Special Services, the three Ukrainians were among 55 individuals detained in recent months for acting in the interests of Russian intelligence.
He stated that one of the suspects—a 21-year-old Ukrainian working at a warehouse in Poland—was apprehended by Poland’s Internal Security Agency (ABW), while two others were arrested by Romanian authorities in Bucharest.
Dobrzyński explained that the suspects attempted to establish “a channel for transferring explosive materials through Poland and Romania into Ukraine.”
The Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed earlier that eight people had recently been arrested across the country for suspected sabotage activities, with the three Ukrainians among them.
According to RFM24, Polish investigators concluded that the suspects were preparing sabotage operations for Russia’s security services before October 16.
Prosecutors reported that the explosive shipments were intended to ignite or detonate during transport, an operation allegedly aimed at spreading fear and destabilizing EU countries supporting Ukraine. Romanian intelligence intercepted the cargo before any explosion occurred.
Poland’s District Court in Warsaw has ordered the detention of the Ukrainian suspect, identified as Danylo H., for three months on charges of participating in Russian intelligence activities and preparing acts of sabotage of a terrorist nature. Romanian courts have imposed 30-day pretrial detention for the two others.
Dobrzyński emphasized that Poland is facing continuous Russian intelligence operations. “Russian special services are constantly active. Poland is on the front line,” he said, noting that dozens of ongoing investigations concern espionage and sabotage cases.
He added that Russian operatives frequently recruit Ukrainians and Belarusians living in Poland for financial rather than ideological reasons.
To counter these efforts, Poland distributes informational materials at border crossings explaining how Russian intelligence attempts to contact potential agents and where to report such approaches.
The Polish government has warned repeatedly that Moscow’s intelligence network is expanding across Central and Eastern Europe, targeting logistics routes, energy facilities, and military infrastructure in NATO countries.
Earlier, at least six German military trucks were set on fire in Erfurt in what appeared to be a Russian sabotage operation. Footage shared by a pro-Russian Telegram channel showed Bundeswehr-marked Rheinmetall MAN trucks burning inside a military facility.
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