Poland says its security services stopped an alleged Russian assassination plot targeting a Ukrainian American citizen in Warsaw. Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the case on August 13, 2026, days after authorities arrested the suspected attacker. The case has attracted attention because the intended target holds both American and Ukrainian citizenship.

Tusk described the case as the first known situation in which someone allegedly acting on Russian orders sought to attack an American citizen inside another NATO country. Polish officials said the operation involved the Internal Security Agency, known as ABW, the police, and cooperation with American services.

The accusation comes at a tense time for Poland and its European neighbors. Warsaw has strongly supported Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. Polish officials have also accused Moscow of espionage, sabotage, cyberattacks, and other hostile operations. These are claims Russia has repeatedly denied.

Polish Authorities Arrest Suspected Russian Recruit

Putin FP / IG / Polish authorities detained the suspect on August 7, according to Prime Minister Tusk and other government officials. The man is a Russian citizen who was allegedly recruited by Russian intelligence services.

Authorities accuse him of preparing to kill the dual American and Ukrainian citizen in Warsaw. Officials have released few details about the suspected operation. They have not publicly explained how the killing was supposed to happen. They also initially withheld the names of the suspect and intended victim, keeping much of the investigation out of public view.

The Polish Prime Minister said the intended target was considered an inconvenient figure by the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He did not explain exactly why the person had allegedly become a target. That missing detail leaves important questions about the motive behind the suspected operation.

The Polish prime minister said authorities managed to stop the alleged killing in its final stages. Warsaw police said the suspect would remain in custody for three months as the case proceeds. The involvement of American services also shows how seriously both countries treated the reported threat.

The Warsaw Case Has Raised Alarm

Tusk / IG / Poland is a NATO member, and Tusk stressed the unusual nature of an alleged Russian-directed attack against an American on the territory of another member of the alliance.

Still, Polish officials have framed the case as part of a wider security challenge rather than an isolated scare. Tusk warned that governments supporting Ukraine should expect further pressure. He said security agencies must prepare for attempts to target people considered troublesome by the Kremlin.

Poland has good reason to pay close attention to suspected Russian operations. Its location has made the country a vital route for assistance heading into Ukraine. Warsaw has provided political support to Kyiv while also serving as a major logistical hub for Western military and humanitarian aid.

The latest case also follows earlier arrests involving suspected Russian intelligence activity in Poland. In 2024, Polish prosecutors accused a Polish man of helping Russian military intelligence prepare a possible attempt against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Authorities said he gathered information about security at Rzeszow Jasionka Airport in southeastern Poland.

Poland is not the only European country to investigate suspected Russian assassination plots. Officials across Europe have reported alleged attempts targeting Russian critics, Ukrainian figures, military defectors, and people who support Kyiv. Some investigations have resulted in arrests before the suspected plans could be carried out.

Germany, France, and Lithuania have all dealt with cases involving suspected plots against people viewed as hostile to Moscow. Western intelligence officials argue that these incidents form part of a broader campaign connected to Russia’s confrontation with Ukraine and countries supporting Kyiv. Moscow has denied conducting a sabotage campaign across Europe.