Russian Ice Hockey Player Arrested in Poland on Spy Charges

Suspected Russian Spy Arrested in Poland

A Russian ice hockey player has been arrested in Poland for allegedly spying for Russia. If convicted, the suspect could face up to ten years in prison.

The Polish intelligence agency has detained an ice hockey player who hails from Russia and is believed to have spied for his home country. According to the relevant prosecutor's office, he was part of a network primarily involved in espionage activities targeting Poland's infrastructure.

Reportedly, the man was apprehended by the intelligence agency in southern Poland's Silesia on June 11. The prosecutor's office did not disclose the suspect's identity, nor did they provide information about the ice hockey club he was associated with. However, according to the news agency dpa, the team is said to belong to the First League.

The alleged spy is now being investigated for his suspected involvement in a criminal organization and acting against the interests of Poland on behalf of a foreign intelligence service. If found guilty, he could face a sentence of up to ten years in prison.

According to investigators, the athlete has been in Poland since October 2021. He is said to be the 14th member of a Russian spy ring to be apprehended. Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro also confirmed the arrest on Twitter, stating, "The Russian spies are being exposed one by one."

There has been little response from the Russian side regarding the espionage allegations. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov only mentioned that "detailed information" about the case is not yet available.

As reported by the Polish news agency PAP, the espionage network to which the suspect allegedly belonged was primarily focused on monitoring the country's railway network. A significant portion of military aid provided by the EU and NATO to Ukraine is transported through Poland.