On video: Ukrainian President Zelensky welcomes Western leaders in Kiev/Telegram
The Polish police announced tonight (Friday) that they have arrested a suspect of involvement in a Russian attempt to assassinate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The suspect apparently tried to pass information about the airport in Poland to Russia, in order to help with the possible assassination of the president of Ukraine at that location.
On Wednesday, the man was arrested on suspicion that he was going to help the Russian military intelligence to carry out a plot whose aim was apparently to assassinate the president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky - this is what the Polish prosecutors said. The suspect, identified only as "Pavel K", allegedly sought contact with Russians directly involved in the war in Ukraine.
Prosecutors said that Pavel K planned to pass on to Russian agents detailed information about the Rzeszow-Jasion airport in southeastern Poland. The suspect's mission was to help the Russians plan a possible assassination of Zelensky that would take place at that airport.
In response to the arrest, American forces took full control of the Rzeszow-Jasion airport. The airport, located near the common border of Poland and Ukraine, serves as the main gateway for international military and humanitarian supplies to Ukraine.
Prosecutors in Poland said the arrest was the result of close cooperation with Ukraine's security services, which provided them with crucial evidence. They also said that the case against the suspect is still developing. If convicted, the suspect will face up to eight years in prison.
At the same time, two German-Russian men were arrested in Germany this week on suspicion of espionage. One of them is accused of agreeing to carry out an attack on potential targets, including American military installations, in the hope of helping Russia sabotage Ukraine.
The two, identified only as "Dieter S" and "Alexander J" in accordance with German privacy rules, were arrested on Wednesday in the Bavarian city of Bayreuth, Germany's federal prosecutors said.