WARSAW – Polish prosecutors announced Thursday they will soon bring three men to trial on sabotage charges connected to a series of fires in Poland and neighboring Baltic countries that authorities believe were orchestrated by Russia.
The charges stem from what Polish officials describe as a Russian “hybrid war” campaign designed to undermine nations supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. This alleged campaign has included both arson incidents and cyber warfare targeting Poland and its allies.
Russian officials have consistently rejected any claims of involvement in these activities.
Prosecutors revealed the upcoming trial will focus on three defendants linked to multiple fire incidents, though they did not specify when proceedings will commence.
The accused include a Belarusian man, identified under Polish privacy regulations only as Stepan K, who faces charges for igniting a fire at an OBI retail location in Warsaw during April 2024.
Two Ukrainian nationals, Daniil B and Oleksandr H, are charged with starting a blaze at an IKEA facility in Vilnius. Additionally, Daniil B faces accusations of plotting to burn down an IKEA store in Riga and filming the destruction of Marywilska 44, one of Warsaw’s largest shopping complexes.
National Prosecutor’s Office spokesperson Przemyslaw Nowak acknowledged significant gaps remain in the investigation.
“The direct perpetrator of the arson attack on the hall at 44 Marywilska Street has not yet been identified as well as the direct ordering party for this arson,” Nowak stated.
“The investigation into this criminal group of arsonists is still ongoing and this does not mean the end of this case,” he continued.
Each of the three primary defendants could receive life imprisonment if convicted.
Nowak also noted that two additional individuals connected to the same organization have been charged with lesser offenses.
This case follows previous convictions, as a Polish court sentenced three other Ukrainians last year for their participation in the same series of fires across Poland and the Baltic region.
