Poland expels 11 over Russia-funded scheme to pay Ukrainian refugees to protest against Kyiv

ABW and border guards detained nine Ukrainians and two Belarusians in five Polish cities and expelled all 11 within hours; since autumn 2025, Russian money had funded a network that recruited refugees to attend anti-Zelensky demonstrations

Summary

ABW and border guards detained nine Ukrainian and two Belarusian nationals in Warsaw, Wroclaw, Krakow, Zakopane and Bydgoszcz on Monday and expelled all 11, dismantling a Russia-backed influence operation. Since autumn 2025, the network had recruited and paid Ukrainian refugees in Poland to attend anti-Kyiv demonstrations, using corruption scandals and domestic Ukrainian political tensions as bait. Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak confirmed funding came from Russia; Ukraine's Centre for Countering Disinformation linked direction to the GRU, Russia's foreign military intelligence agency.

Why it matters

Warsaw's operation confirms Moscow is turning war-displaced Ukrainians inside a NATO member state into instruments of covert political disruption. Poland hosts roughly 900,000 Ukrainian refugees, the largest such population in Europe, and is a high-priority target for Russian hybrid operations.

the record · 1

Poland's Internal Security Agency (ABW) — ABW's statement confirmed the detention and immediate expulsion of nine Ukrainian and two Belarusian nationals for running a Russian-funded influence operation across Warsaw, Wroclaw, Krakow, Zakopane and Bydgoszcz; described the scheme as 'actions below the threshold of conventional aggression' with funding attributed to the Russian Federation.

Regional takes · 2

▸ English-language digest of Polish domestic news; first comprehensive English account with full ABW statement and ministerial commentary

Notes From Poland · Poland · en · Jun 29, 2026 09:53Z

Reported the ABW statement in full and obtained comment from Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak, who called it 'another example of Russia weaponizing people fleeing the war'; noted Ukraine's Centre for Countering Disinformation attributed direction to Russia's GRU foreign military intelligence.

“The aim was to 'stoke tensions' and 'break down social trust,' according to the ABW. Russia's foreign military intelligence agency has been tasked with the operation, Ukraine's Centre for Countering Disinformation says.”

Source ↗

▸ Ukrainian national English-language outlet; framed the expulsions as proof that Moscow treats displaced Ukrainians across NATO territory as instruments of covert political war

Kyiv Independent · Ukraine · en

Confirmed all 11 detainees had been expelled before Warsaw made the operation public, and cited ABW on the autumn 2025 start date; linked the operation to Russia's wider hybrid campaign inside Europe.

“The ABW said that the operation was another example of how Moscow uses 'actions below the threshold of classic aggression' intended to 'break down social trust, stoke tensions, and use people fleeing war as tools of Russian influence operations.'”

Source ↗