A Polish suspect, Pawel K., has begun court proceedings on charges that he prepared to assist Russian intelligence and plan an assassination of Ukrainian President Zelensky, according to documents released by prosecutors.
Arrest and Allegations
Pawel K. was detained on April 17 last year by the Internal Security Agency. Prosecutors say he signaled readiness to act on behalf of Russian military intelligence, establishing contacts with Russian citizens directly involved in the Ukraine war.
He was tasked with collecting and transmitting data on the security of Rzeszów‑Jasionka Airport. Authorities claim the aim was to aid Russian special services in planning a possible assassination of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Court Proceedings
On Tuesday, Pawel K. appeared before the District Court in Zamość. He denied guilt, and court transcripts repeated statements he had filed with the prosecutor’s office.
According to reports, he claimed to wish to help apprehend Russian war criminals in exchange for a financial reward, stating the planned attack was aimed at President Vladimir Putin, not Zelensky, and that he intended to pass the information to Polish and Ukrainian services.
Defence Claims
Prosecutors dismissed this version as a 50‑year‑old’s defensive line, maintaining that the evidence supports the original allegations. K. faces up to eight years in prison.
Failed Attack Plan
Ukrainian Security Service chief Vasyl Maluk confirmed in June that Polish counter‑intelligence, in cooperation with the Polish ABW, prevented an attempted attack on Zelensky at Rzeszów airport.
Maluk described the operation as the joint result of many professional efforts and noted that the agent was arrested before the plan could be executed.