Poland Thwarts Russian Plot to Assassinate Ukrainian American Citizen

Polish authorities have thwarted a plot by a Russian citizen to assassinate a man with both Ukrainian and United States citizenship in Warsaw. Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that the target was someone who was uncomfortable for the regime of President Vladimir Putin. The suspect was detained on August 7 and will be held in custody for three months. Tomasz Siemoniak, the minister overseeing intelligence services, noted that the operation was carried out in cooperation with U.S. intelligence services. Tusk described the event as unprecedented, claiming it was the first time a Russian linked actor attempted to attack a U.S. citizen on the territory of another NATO member state.

The U.S. State Department confirmed it was aware of the reports but provided no further information. While official government sources did not name the target, reports from Novaya Gazeta Europe citing RMF FM suggest the intended victim was the Ukrainian rapper known as Kievstoner. This follows a separate incident in June where a Kremlin critical Russian artist was shot in eastern Poland, which Tusk also characterized as a politically motivated murder.

Western officials have warned that Russia has increased its campaign of targeted killings and sabotage across Europe since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The Associated Press has identified approximately 200 acts of sabotage and disruption linked to Russia in Europe. President Vladimir Putin has denied that Russia is conducting a sabotage campaign against Europe.