Russian hockey player arrested for espionage in Poland

Zbigniew Zebro, Poland's Minister of Justice, said: 'Catch one Russian spy after another!' Photo: NurPhoto

A Russian hockey player was arrested in Poland on suspicion of being part of a Moscow spy ring trying to sabotage arms shipments to Ukraine.

A man playing in the Polish Premier League was arrested on June 11, but the charge was filed only on Friday, according to the Polish security services.

Officially, his name has not been released, but several Polish media outlets have called him Maksim S. If his guilt is proven, he faces up to 10 years in prison.

“They are catching one Russian spy after another!” Zbigniew Zebro, Minister of Justice of Poland, said.

“Another success story for investigators from the National Prosecutor’s Office and the Internal Security Agency (ABW),” he said.

Poland has long been a target for Moscow spies due to its proximity to Russia and its growing presence in NATO. military presence, but with the start of the war in Ukraine, it has become even larger.

The country has become a logistical hub for military support to Ukraine, while increasing the number of NATO troops there.

According to the Polish intelligence services, the hockey player belonged to a spy network that was preparing «sabotage acts ordered by Russian intelligence.»

In recent months, on suspicion of involvement in the same ring.

«[He ] performed tasks in the interests of foreign intelligence, which included, among other things, reconnaissance of critical infrastructure objects.

The Ring was “used by the Russians to conduct intelligence activities, including monitoring railways, as well as to distribute propaganda directed against NATO, Poland and the policies of the Polish government,” the security services said.

“The suspects were also preparing acts of subversion aimed at paralyzing the supply of equipment, weapons and aid to this war-torn country [Ukraine],” the message says.

Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, was quoted by Interfax as saying in response to the arrest of the player: “We demand that the Russian side be immediately provided with comprehensive explanations.”

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