The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and Polish authorities have uncovered a Russian-backed network that allegedly organized paid anti-Ukrainian protests in Poland, identifying 11 people involved in the operation.
The SBU, in its Thursday Telegram update, said the investigation was conducted jointly with Poland’s Internal Security Agency (ABW) and focused on a series of Kremlin-backed demonstrations held in Warsaw and Wrocław during 2025-2026.
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Investigators said the network organized five staged protests intended to promote anti-Ukrainian narratives and weaken public support for Ukraine across the EU.
“The staged street protests organized by Russia in European cities were aimed at discrediting Ukraine internationally and undermining the socio-political situation in EU countries,” the agency said.
According to the SBU, organizers offered participants between $100 and $200 for attending the demonstrations.
Among those identified were two Belarusian citizens and nine Ukrainian citizens residing in EU countries. Investigators said the suspects recruited participants, instructed them on how to take part in the events, distributed provocative campaign materials, and paid them in cash on behalf of Russian handlers based in Moscow.
The SBU said all 11 suspects have been deported to their countries of origin.
Ukrainian citizens involved in the scheme will face legal repercussions based on the degree of their alleged involvement.
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The SBU added that the joint investigation is ongoing to identify and prosecute those involved.
Russia has repeatedly been accused by Ukraine and Western governments of conducting influence campaigns across Europe, including disinformation operations, election interference, and covert efforts to undermine public support for Ukraine through proxy groups and online networks.
In July 2025, Moldova accused Russia of “unprecedented interference” in the country’s elections. In late 2024, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also accused Russia of disrupting the US election voting process by creating false bomb threats.
Around the same period, Romania also overturned the election results when Calin Georgescu, a far-right candidate, unexpectedly topped the first round of voting following a social media campaign traced to the Kremlin.
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