Polish security services say they have detained a Russian citizen and banned four people from entering the country after cracking down on a network waging a “hybrid and information war” masterminded by Moscow.

A security services spokesman warned on Thursday that Russia was trying to destabilise Polish society and politics.

The Russian citizen, a woman, was detained by Poland’s Internal Security Agency (ABW), said Stanisław Żaryn, a spokesman for the country's security services chief, as quoted by public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency.

The woman, named only as “Yekaterina C.,” has been living in Poland since 2013, according to IAR. She will be expelled from the country soon, IAR added.

In addition, four other individuals have been handed a five-year ban on entering Poland, according to IAR.

Żaryn said that Poland’s Internal Security Agency had in recent weeks “neutralised the activity of two networks involved in the Russian hybrid and information war carried out against the Republic of Poland.”

‘Russian narrative’

He added that the suspects took part in "fueling Polish-Ukrainian animosities in the social and political arenas and questioning and undermining Polish policy [over historical issues] and replacing it with a Russian narrative."

Żaryn added that the Internal Security Agency had obtained information indicating that Russia was “not only inspiring Polish citizens to take specific actions against Poland and in the interests of Russia, but also financing their activities.”

'Financed by Moscow'

Żaryn warned that Russia aimed to destabilise Poland.

"It is important to ... sensitise society in our country to treat pro-Russian initiatives in Poland with great caution,” he said.

Russia wants “to create the impression that such initiatives are spontaneous and independent social movements, while in fact they are often inspired, coordinated and financed by Russia, and their goal is to destabilise the socio-political situation in our country," he added.

(pk/gs)

Source: PAP/IAR