WARSAW, Poland — On March 24, 2022, Polish authorities ordered the expulsion of 45 Russian nationals whom the Internal Security Agency identified as intelligence officers operating under diplomatic cover. The directive came three weeks after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, marking one of the largest diplomatic expulsions in Poland’s history. Stanislaw Zaryn, the state security spokesman, confirmed that the individuals had been using their diplomatic status to conduct espionage activities aimed at gathering sensitive information and undermining Poland’s stability.
The Foreign Ministry summoned Russian Ambassador Sergei Andreev to deliver a formal notification of the expulsions. Andreev, who was not among those ordered to leave, claimed the targeted employees were engaged in normal diplomatic and trade activities and warned that Russia would respond reciprocally.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Lukasz Jasina outlined the departure timeline: most of the 45 individuals were given five days to leave Poland, while one person was ordered to depart within 48 hours due to an especially grave threat. Jasina stated that Russia was waging a barbaric war against Ukraine and that Moscow viewed Poland and other Western nations as key enemies. He warned that tolerating such illegal activity would endanger not only Polish security but also the safety of NATO and European Union allies, with whom Poland coordinates all such operations.
Threats to Refugees and Internal Security
The expulsions occurred as Poland was accepting large numbers of refugees fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. Jasina noted that the illegal activities of these diplomats posed a direct threat to those who had sought protection in Poland.
Zaryn added that the security agency made its decision in light of Russian aggression against Ukraine, and he was unaware of any previous expulsion of so many intelligence agents at once. The number represented about half of Russia’s diplomatic staff in Warsaw. The security agency reported that Russian services were increasingly on the offensive and acting aggressively against Poland.
Zaryn explained that the 45 Russians’ activities served objectives designed to undermine the stability of Poland and its allies internationally. The agency also revealed it had detained a Polish citizen on suspicion of espionage for Russian secret services.
The suspect, detained on March 17, worked in Warsaw’s registry office and had access to city archives.
Detention of Suspected Agents at Borders
Polish state security said the detained suspect’s activity posed a threat to both internal and external security. Zaryn confirmed that the Russian individual given 48 hours to leave had been in contact with the Polish suspect.
This arrest followed another recent detention: days after Russia invaded Ukraine, Poland arrested a Spanish citizen of Russian origin suspected of conducting intelligence activities for Russia. The man was detained in Przemysl, a Polish border town where hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees had passed through. Poland’s security agency identified the arrested man as an agent for the Russian military intelligence, the GRU, accused of profiting from his status as a journalist to travel freely around the world, including military conflict zones and politically tense territories.
Escalating Regional Tensions
The expulsions represent a significant shift in Poland’s approach to Russian diplomatic presence. By removing half of the Russian diplomatic staff, Warsaw has effectively reduced Moscow’s ability to conduct covert operations under diplomatic guise.
Jasina reiterated that further tolerance of such activity would create a particular threat to Poland’s security and that of its allies. The situation remains fluid as both nations prepare for potential retaliatory measures, with Andreev’s warning suggesting Moscow may soon announce similar expulsions of Polish diplomats in Russia. The broader geopolitical landscape continues to tighten as NATO members reassess their exposure to Russian intelligence networks.
