Polish prosecutors have charged an 18-year-old Ukrainian man, identified as Illia K, with carrying out sabotage acts on behalf of Russian intelligence. The alleged actions, committed between November 2024 and August 2025, aimed to incite ethnic tensions between Poland and Ukraine, according to Poland's Internal Security Agency (ABW).

The charges include desecrating memorials dedicated to Polish victims of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), which was involved in the Volyhnia massacre during World War Two, where up to 100,000 Poles were killed in what is now western Ukraine. Prosecutors noted that although Illia K acted primarily for financial gain rather than ideological motives, most acts benefited foreign intelligence.

Additionally, the teenager was charged with preparing to fly a drone over Polish President Karol Nawrocki's vehicle during the Polish Armed Forces' Day parade in Warsaw on August 15, 2025. In response to historical tensions, Nawrocki stripped the Ukrainian leader of Poland's highest state honor, the Order of the White Eagle, an action rarely taken in the past 300 years.

The ABW also reported a significant increase in espionage investigations, launching 48 cases in 2025—more than double the number in 2024. The agency stated that Russian secret services have focused on discrediting Poland internationally and exploiting historical grievances.

The complex history surrounding the UPA remains contentious. While Poland highlights the UPA's role in wartime atrocities, some Ukrainians view the group as heroes for their fight against Soviet occupation after World War Two.

Sources