Polish authorities, on Monday, announced the arrest of two Russians believed to be involved in the dissemination of promotional materials relating to the Wagner mercenary group in both Warsaw and Kraków. Interior Minister Mariusz Kamiński disclosed this information via a social media post.
The swift action of Poland’s Internal Security Agency, in collaboration with local police, led to the identification and subsequent apprehension of the two suspects. They are currently in custody and are being investigated for charges including espionage.
The arrests were precipitated by the appearance of posters in Kraków brandishing Wagner’s emblematic skull logo. Upon scanning a featured QR code, individuals were directed to a recruitment webpage for the Kremlin-backed paramilitary organization. With a clear and ominous message, the poster declared, “We are here,” followed by an invitation: “Join us.”
Łukasz Wantuch, a local Kraków councilor, took to Facebook to share an image of one of the posters. He described the act as a “provocation” and noted its occurrence wasn’t limited to Kraków.
The unsettling propaganda effort comes on the heels of recent comments from Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. Earlier this month, Morawiecki conveyed concerns about the Wagner group potentially engaging in “sabotage actions” within Poland. He emphasized the gravity of the perceived threat.
Further increasing tensions in the region, some Wagner operatives have relocated to Belarus from Russia. This move came after an agreement was made to cease the group’s 24-hour revolt against Moscow, orchestrated by leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, in June. The transition ignited unease among neighboring nations. As a precautionary measure, Poland relocated some of its military contingents eastward, nearer to the Belarusian frontier.
