Two Russians jailed in Poland for espionage and Wagner Group membership

Polish court on 14 February sentenced two Russian citizens to five and a half years in prison for being members of the Wagner Group and spying for Russia

As reported by Reuters, Poland and other NATO countries have been facing increased acts of sabotage, subversive activities and other forms of hybrid warfare from Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine began three years ago.

"The defendants' actions were intended to cause social anxiety, in particular to make Polish society believe that members of the Wagner Group are already here in the territory of the Republic of Poland, that the Polish services are not working," the spokesperson for the Kraków District Court said.

Alexei T. and Andrei G. were arrested in Warsaw in August 2023 and charged with working for foreign intelligence agencies and being part of an international armed group with the intent to commit terrorist acts.

The prosecutors reported that the men placed stickers in Kraków and Warsaw featuring QR codes leading to a Wagner Group recruitment website.

Prior to their arrest in Poland, the two had also distributed stickers in France and Germany mocking Western defence policies.