Russian Man Detained in Poland on Suspicion of Espionage

Reform.news Editorial Team · 30 October 2026, 10:36

https://reform.news/en/russian-man-detained-in-poland-on-suspicion-of-espionage/

A 55-year-old Russian citizen has been detained in Poland’s Lower Silesian Voivodeship on suspicion of espionage.

The man was detained while photographing trains and railway infrastructure in Świdnica. An examination of the storage devices found in his possession revealed hundreds of thousands of additional similar photographs, taken not only in Poland.

The Russian national was detained during a police operation conducted in connection with a football match to prevent clashes between football ultras. The man was sitting in a Volkswagen parked at an unguarded railway crossing. Upon seeing police officers, he suddenly reversed and drove away. The patrol officers followed in the same direction and spotted the same car near a railway viaduct. The man was standing next to the vehicle. When he noticed the officers, he became visibly nervous and attempted to flee. The police eventually decided to detain him.

An initial check established that the Russian national had come to Poland for work. Further suspicions arose only after the data stored on his devices had been analysed.

The man has been charged with espionage and, by court order, remanded in custody for three months. In addition to digital equipment and high-capacity storage devices, several different identity documents were seized from him.