Poland’s Internal Security Agency (ABW) has arrested a 63-year-old Ukrainian citizen suspected of attempting to assassinate a representative of Ukraine’s defense industry in Irpin, Kyiv Oblast, allegedly acting on behalf of Russian intelligence services, Polish outlet Wiadomosci WP reported on Thursday, Aug. 20.
The suspect, identified as Serhii P., allegedly planted an improvised explosive device under a car used by the victim, according to ABW findings cited by WP.
The device was reportedly designed to be detonated remotely using a mobile phone, but the explosion did not occur due to mechanism failure.
After the failed assassination attempt, Serhii P. fled to Poland, where ABW officers located and arrested him in Warsaw on Aug. 5.
Murder charges
The day after his arrest, Serhii P. was charged with attempted murder of a representative of the Ukrainian defense industry using explosives, as well as possession of explosives without required authorization.
A Polish court ordered the suspect to remain in pretrial detention for three months. If convicted, he faces up to life imprisonment.
According to ABW, the arrest was carried out in cooperation with Ukrainian partner security services.
The investigation is being conducted by the Criminal Proceedings Department of Poland’s Internal Security Agency under the supervision of the Warsaw branch of the National Prosecutor’s Office’s Department for Organized Crime and Corruption.
Additionally, Polish authorities announced on Aug. 7 that they had also arrested a Russian citizen in Warsaw who was allegedly tasked with carrying out an assassination of a US and Ukrainian citizen considered an opponent of the Kremlin.