Former Territorial Defence soldier detained on live TikTok stream in Poznań
The Military Gendarmerie, with police support, detained Mateusz R. on Monday, 12 October, while he streamed live on TikTok. The Territorial Defence Forces say he was discharged on 14 August 2026 for breaching military discipline.
Detention during a live broadcast
On Monday, 12 October 2026, officers entered an apartment in Poznań where Mateusz R., a former soldier of the 12th Greater Poland Territorial Defence Brigade, was streaming live on TikTok. Media reports say the officers ordered him to open the door, but he refused and asked to see the legal basis for their entry. After roughly a dozen minutes the officers forced their way in, and the broadcast shows the moment they entered and restrained him. A fragment of the recording spread on social media, in which he can be heard saying that the officers were breaking his door and that he was a happy man. The detention was carried out by the Military Gendarmerie, with police support.
Who led the operation
A Greater Poland police spokesperson said the Military Gendarmerie conducted the main activities, while police officers only supported them. The Military Gendarmerie's spokesman said the actions were carried out under article 308 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. That provision allows evidence to be secured and urgent steps taken before formal proceedings are opened, when there is a risk that evidence will be lost or distorted. Radio Poznań reported that the Military Gendarmerie is chairing the proceedings.
The army's account
The Territorial Defence Forces (WOT) said Mateusz R. was discharged on 14 August 2026 for conduct it classed as a breach of military discipline under article 353 of the 11 March 2022 act on the homeland defence. According to the WOT statement, the basis for the decision was the totality of his documented media activity. That activity included illegal recording and distribution of footage from the unit's grounds and of images of soldiers without their consent or knowledge. The army also cited his use of soldier status, uniform, insignia and the unit name for personal media work, and the vulgar form of his content. The WOT spokesman said he had not been a Polish Armed Forces soldier for about two months, even though he continued to present himself publicly as a sergeant of an engineer company in the 12th brigade.
Earlier conflict with commanders
Defence24 reported that for months before his discharge Mateusz R. published material about his conflict with the brigade's leadership, criticising commanders, insulting them and suggesting irregularities in the unit. In his recordings he named a colonel and two lieutenant colonels as targets of his criticism. In one recording he threatened soldiers, saying the engineer company would follow him 'into fire'. Radio Poznań reported that he had announced the disclosure of alleged irregularities in the unit. The reports do not say whether these allegations have been examined.
Open proceedings
The Poznań-Grunwald District Prosecutor's Office, through its 13th Military Affairs Department, is handling the case. Defence24 reports that he is to undergo psychiatric observation. The articles do not report any charges or a court date. The WOT statement was dated 12 October 2026.
