Polish Territorial Defence Soldier Detained for Alleged Espionage for Russian Intelligence

Poland's Internal Security Agency detained a soldier of the 12th Wielkopolska Territorial Defence Brigade on March 30, 2026, on charges of spying for Russian intelligence, in a case that has exposed potential gaps in the Polish military's recruitment and vetting procedures. The suspect, identified as Jarosław K., was charged under Article 130 of the Penal Code for allegedly acting on behalf of a foreign intelligence service against the Republic of Poland. According to prosecutors, the alleged espionage activity spanned from July 2023 to April 2024. Jarosław K. formally joined the Territorial Defence Forces in March 2024 after completing voluntary basic military service, meaning the charges cover only the final month of the alleged period — when he was undergoing initial training. The investigation was initiated by the District Prosecutor's Office in Poznań on the basis of materials provided by the Military Counterintelligence Service.

Soldier's pro-Russian views were publicly visible before enlistment Jarosław K. made no effort to conceal his political sympathies, regularly posting anti-Ukrainian, pro-Russian, and anti-Western content on social media before and during his military service. Nine days before his detention, he attended a rally of the "Rodacy Kamraci" movement in Warsaw, appearing in a black uniform bearing the inscription "Polska narodowa straż kamracka" (Polish National Comrade Guard) and standing alongside the group's leader, Wojciech Olszański. According to reporting by Gazeta Wyborcza, his speeches at such events contained anti-Ukrainian and anti-Semitic content. As a radio operator in the WOT, Jarosław K. held access to information classified at the "restricted" level, which included orders, training plans, and the personal data of fellow soldiers. The fact that his views were publicly known before enlistment has drawn sharp criticism of the WOT's candidate screening process. Professor Rafał Pankowski was cited by Wprost as saying the case demonstrated that no one verified the soldier's connections or proclaimed views during recruitment. General Piotr Pytel suggested the case may represent only a fragment of a broader investigation into Russian intelligence activities in Poland, noting that Russian services frequently use individuals with overt pro-Russian sympathies.

Court rejects arrest, prosecution files immediate appeal Despite the gravity of the charges, the District Court in Poznań declined the prosecution's motion for temporary arrest, applying non-custodial measures instead — placing Jarosław K. under police supervision and imposing a ban on leaving Poland. The court reasoned that the collected evidence did not unequivocally confirm the commission of the crime of espionage, though it did not exclude the possibility that the suspect had been gathering information with the intention of transferring it to a foreign intelligence service. Prosecutor Łukasz Wawrzyniak, press spokesman for the District Prosecutor's Office in Poznań, confirmed that investigators appealed the district court's decision. „The court did not grant the motion and applied non-custodial measures. The decision is not final” — Łukasz Wawrzyniak via TVN24 The prosecution maintained that the evidence confirmed activity conducted in the interest of Russian services. Espionage carries a penalty of up to 30 years in prison under Polish law, and in certain circumstances — including when committed by a soldier — can result in a sentence of life imprisonment, according to reporting by Głos Wielkopolski.

Brigade commander dismissed soldier within hours of notification The commander of the 12th Wielkopolska Territorial Defence Brigade was informed of the detention on April 1, 2026, by the District Prosecutor's Office in Poznań, and acted immediately. Major Rafał Rylich, acting press spokesman for the TDF Command, confirmed in a statement published on April 16 that the brigade commander ordered the soldier's dismissal from Territorial Military Service without delay. „Immediately after receiving the information, the brigade commander made the decision to immediately dismiss the aforementioned from performing Territorial Military Service” — Rafał Rylich via Do Rzeczy The TDF Command also clarified that Jarosław K. held only a basic security clearance for classified information — the minimum required for every service position within the formation — and had not participated in border protection operations or other activities directly related to state security. Security specialists cited in multiple reports noted that the WOT, which numbers approximately , is considered particularly vulnerable to infiltration because its ranks are drawn from civilian volunteers with diverse backgrounds and often no prior military experience.

Poland's Territorial Defence Forces were established as a fifth branch of the Polish Armed Forces, designed to supplement conventional military units through a network of locally recruited volunteers. The formation has grown rapidly since its creation, drawing recruits from civilian life with comparatively streamlined entry requirements. Security experts have long flagged the challenge of vetting large numbers of civilian volunteers in a force that expanded quickly, particularly given the heightened threat of Russian intelligence operations targeting NATO member states since the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.