Russian, Belarusian and Chinese intelligence services significantly intensified their activities in Poland in 2024 and 2025, according to a report by the Internal Security Agency (ABW). This was pointed out by the PAP agency, TASR informs.
- Russian, Belarusian and Chinese intelligence services have significantly intensified their activities in Poland.
- ABW launched sixty-nine espionage investigations in 2024 and 2025.
- Polish authorities have accused eighty-two people of espionage since the invasion of Ukraine.
Over the course of those two years, the ABW launched 69 espionage investigations, 48 of which last year. This number corresponds to the total number of similar investigations initiated in the previous 32 years, from 1991 to 2023.
The growing number of espionage cases
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Polish authorities have identified 91 suspects and brought charges against 82 people for various forms of espionage, ABW said. Sixty-two people were detained.
The agency has also thwarted certain foreign intelligence operations using measures such as entry bans, deportations, and the denial or withdrawal of diplomatic accreditations.
Objectives of Russian operations in Poland
According to the ABW report, Moscow’s activities in Poland were aimed at discrediting the country internationally, undermining trust in state institutions and promoting pro-Russian views.
These efforts also included attempts to incite anti-establishment and anti-European sentiment, as well as anti-NATO sentiment. At the same time, Russia tried to deepen social divisions, especially by exploiting the historical tensions in Polish-Ukrainian relations.
Chinese and Belarusian intelligence activity
ABW also confirmed in the report that, in cooperation with partner agencies, it prevented attempted attacks and assassinations targeting activists critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to ABW, Poland remains a priority target for Minsk’s intelligence services, which are trying to infiltrate and dismantle several Belarusian opposition groups in the country. They cooperate with Russian services, primarily in the field of military intelligence, which focuses on Polish and allied military facilities and critical infrastructure.
ABW also warned against the growing influence of China, which is partly fueled by economic expansion in the region.
“With the increase in Chinese activity in Poland, the country’s intelligence services are trying to create a positive image of the People’s Republic of China, using domestic media and trying to reach out to the Polish mass media,” ABW said.
