Poland thwarts Russian plot to assassinate US citizen in Warsaw

Poland has foiled a Russian assassination plot targeting a Ukrainian-American citizen in Warsaw, a move Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described as unprecedented. Tusk announced on August 13 that Polish authorities had disrupted the conspiracy before it could be executed, marking the first public accusation by a Western leader of Moscow plotting to kill a U.S. citizen on NATO territory.

Western officials had previously warned of increased targeted assassinations by Russia since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, with several plots uncovered across Europe. However, Tusk emphasized the unique nature of this incident, stating it was the first time "a person instructed by Russia" attempted to attack a U.S. citizen within another NATO member state.

The suspect, allegedly absorbed by Russian intelligence services, was detained by Polish authorities on August 7. Tusk stated the target was a Ukrainian-American citizen who "made the Putin regime uneasy." Tomasz Siemoniak, Poland's minister overseeing intelligence agencies, confirmed the operation was conducted in cooperation with U.S. intelligence and that the target was "of Ukrainian origin," without providing further details. The Russian Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

“

a person instructed by Russia

Russia has long been accused of targeting its enemies abroad, employing methods including rare poisons. Intelligence officials have noted a growing brazenness in target selection by Russian security agencies, pursuing not only Russian activists and foreign supporters of Ukraine but also defecting soldiers. Western officials believe these actions are part of Russia's broader efforts to undermine European nations supporting Ukraine. Since the conflict began, approximately 200 incidents of suspected Russian sabotage, arson, and other disruptive acts across Europe have been compiled by the Associated Press.

This incident follows a pattern of alleged Russian state-sponsored assassinations. In June, a Russian artist critical of Putin was shot and killed in Poland, which Tusk suggested had the hallmarks of a political assassination. Previous cases include the 2006 poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko in London, the 2018 Novichok nerve agent attack on Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, and the 2019 assassination of Zelimkhan Khangoshvili in Berlin. Germany also cited Russian involvement in the 2019 assassination of Khangoshvili. In 2024, Polish authorities arrested a man suspected of plotting to assassinate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. A defecting Russian helicopter pilot was also killed in Spain the same year, with suspicions falling on Russian agents.

“

made the Putin regime uneasy