The Polish security services announced today the arrest of three people on suspicion of committing arson “on behalf” of Russia, in various areas in Poland.

“These are new arrests in the context of an investigation focusing on the activities of a criminal organization that aimed to commit acts of sabotage, in particular arson, on behalf of the Russian intelligence services”Jacek Dobrinski said in a press release.

The people who one Pole and two Belarusians were arrestedwere remanded in custody and face sentences of up to life in prison.

The press release also states the arrest, in January, of a Ukrainianwho was preparing arson attacks in Wrocław (west).

In recent months, many fires of unknown origin have broken out in Poland.

The country’s police are mainly investigating a fire at a large public market in Warsaw, where 1,400 small shops, owned mainly by members of the Vietnamese community, were destroyed in mid-May.

However, the authorities refuse to say clearly whether a possible scenario involving Russia is being considered.

The Prime Minister Donald Tusk recently stated that in recent months many sabotage and arson attempts have taken place in Poland on behalf of the Russian intelligence services.

Those attempts “fortunately, thanks to the vigilance of our services and our allies could be avoided,” he said in mid-May.

The head of the Polish government has announced the strengthening of the country’s intelligence services following activities by Russia aimed at destabilizing the situation in Poland.

Also today, Polish security services announced that they had charged a Ukrainian, aged 26, with “provocations” and “inciting espionage”.