Poland confirms transfer of Russian agent to Ukraine

Poland has confirmed that it has handed over a Ukrainian citizen suspected of working for Russia to Ukraine.

As reported by PAP, the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) earlier announced that Poland had handed over a Russian agent belonging to the entourage of pro-Russian figure Viktor Medvedchuk, who is currently hiding in Russia.

Ukrainian media reports suggest the person in question is Kyrylo Molchanov, a "political expert" and propagandist.

Commenting on the reports, Polish Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said that the transfer was a routine legal procedure and part of cooperation between rule-of-law states.

"Suspects wanted for crimes are deported to Poland… and if we have a Ukrainian citizen wanted by Ukraine, we deport them there. This is normal cooperation between states governed by the rule of law… It’s routine," Siemoniak said. 

In 2022, Molchanov left Ukraine for Russia, where he became one of the key ideologues behind Kremlin-linked media projects. He also became a frequent guest on Russian propaganda television.

It was also reported earlier that Polish internal security agency ABW had detained a 47-year-old Ukrainian citizen on suspicion of working for Russian intelligence services.