Russian intelligence services recruited people in Poland to carry out assignments, including surveillance of military sites, installing hidden cameras, and even carrying out sabotage. Other tasks included propaganda activities, such as spraying graffiti with insults directed at the former ruling party "Law and Justice" (PiS) and President Andrzej Duda, as reported by Notesfrompoland.
Unlike classic espionage, the recruits were not professional agents. Russian handlers recruited immigrants and refugees from neighboring countries via Telegram, paying them small sums in cryptocurrency.
According to media reports, participants were paid $7 for graffiti, $5 for distributing anti-war leaflets, and $300 for installing hidden cameras. In some cases, they were offered up to $10,000 for sabotage activities, such as causing a train crash, though not all agreed to carry out such tasks.
The tasks had to be confirmed with videos or photos sent to the handlers.
Poland's Internal Security Agency (ABW) uncovered the Russian network when it discovered hidden surveillance cameras along railways and near the Jasienka airport, a key logistics hub for weapons deliveries to Ukraine.
Investigators established that the cameras were powered by solar panels and connected to the internet. According to the prosecution, 16 people have already been convicted for working with Russian intelligence.
After the network's exposure, Poland tightened its espionage laws: spreading disinformation is now punishable by up to 8 years in prison, and sabotage by no less than 10 years.
The Polish prosecution reported that 27 more espionage cases are being investigated, but most of them remain undisclosed.
