- A Russian plot to kill a Ukrainian American citizen in Warsaw was thwarted by Poland before it could be carried out, the Polish prime minister said Thursday.
- It was the first time that "someone on the order of Russia" sought to attack an American citizen on the territory of another NATO country, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.
- A suspect, who was allegedly recruited by Russia's secret services, was detained by Polish authorities on Aug. 7.
- The targeted victim was a U.S. citizen "of Ukrainian origin," according to Tomasz Siemoniak, Poland's minister overseeing intelligence services.
- Tusk stated that the American Ukrainian citizen "was uncomfortable for the Putin regime," indicating the motive behind the plot.
- The operation to disrupt the plot was carried out in cooperation with U.S. services, highlighting international collaboration in countering threats.
- Tusk emphasized that this incident reflects a broader concern, stating, "We have to accept the assumption that the Putin regime will try to eliminate people who are inconvenient for various reasons."
Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk revealed that a Russian plot to assassinate a Ukrainian American citizen in Warsaw was successfully thwarted, marking a significant escalation in threats against U.S. citizens abroad.14
Tusk stated, "This is the first situation of its kind in which someone, acting on Russian orders, decided to carry out an attack against an American citizen on the territory of another NATO country."
The suspect, arrested on August 7, was allegedly recruited by Russia's secret services and was deemed "inconvenient from the point of view of the Putin regime."
The operation was conducted in collaboration with U.S. intelligence services, highlighting the growing concerns over Russian activities in NATO territories.
Tusk emphasized the seriousness of the threat, stating, "We have to accept the assumption that the Putin regime will try to eliminate people who are inconvenient for various reasons."7
This incident marks a rare public acknowledgment by a Western leader of a direct assassination plot orchestrated by Moscow against a U.S. citizen, raising alarms about the potential for further aggression.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has yet to respond to these allegations, leaving many questions unanswered about the extent of Russian operations in Europe.
As tensions between NATO and Russia continue to escalate, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing geopolitical challenges faced by member states.
“He was inconvenient from the point of view of the Putin regime, and at the last moment... we managed to prevent this execution,” Tusk added, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
The targeted victim was identified as a U.S. citizen of Ukrainian origin, further complicating the already tense relations between the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia.
“The suspect, allegedly recruited by Russia's secret services, was detained on Aug. 7, and the operation was carried out with U.S. services, according to Poland's intelligence minister. Tusk warned that the Putin regime will try to eliminate people who are inconvenient for various reasons.”
CBS News
