A Polish man has been arrested under suspicion of aiding a Russian plot to assassinate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, as announced by the prosecutor’s office on Thursday.
The individual, identified as Pawel K, is accused of expressing willingness to assist Russian military intelligence in gathering information about the security of Rzeszow-Jasionka airport, a crucial transit point for officials traveling to and from Ukraine.
If found guilty under espionage laws, the suspect could face up to eight years in prison.
The investigation was conducted in close collaboration between Polish and Ukrainian authorities, with key evidence supplied by the Ukrainian side, according to the statement.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, German authorities disclosed on Thursday the arrest of two individuals suspected of spying for Russia and being part of a terrorist group planning sabotage activities, a case described by the interior minister as “particularly serious.”
President Zelenskiy has frequently utilized Rzeszow-Jasionka airport for international travel, leveraging his trips to garner support for Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing large-scale invasion.
Situated 100 km (62 miles) from the Medyka border crossing into Ukraine, the airport has also been a vital conduit for Western military assistance destined for Ukraine.
In a November interview with the Sun newspaper last year, Zelenskiy revealed that his intelligence services had thwarted multiple plots aimed at assassinating him.
