Russian citizen who lived and did business in Poland for many years accused of spying on behalf of Russia between 2015 and April 2022, Polish authorities said today.

Relations between Russia and countries that once belonged to the Soviet sphere of influence have long been strained, but the invasion of Ukraine has heightened caution in terms of Moscow’s intentions.

The man was taken into custody in April based on evidence that he had collected information on the military readiness of the Polish Armed Forces and NATO troops, which he then passed on to Russian intelligence.

The prosecution against the suspect was filed last Friday in a Gdansk court, according to a representative of the city’s prosecutor’s office.

“The suspect’s espionage activity focused on military units located in the north-eastern part of Poland, as part of which he was conducting reconnaissance missions targeting the Polish Armed Forces,” the spokeswoman said.

Furthermore, a series of corruption offenses were revealed which were committed by this man and related to the customs control of products. The man faces up to 10 years in prison.

“The case … is one of several investigations into activities of the Russian and Belarusian intelligence services against the Polish Armed Forces currently being handled by the prosecutors of the military affairs directorate,” the spokeswoman said.