Russian hockey player detained in Poland on suspicion of espionage

A 28-year-old Russian hockey player has been detained in Poland on suspicion of espionage, Public Prosecutor General of Poland Zbigniew Ziobro said in a tweet. According to the Polish Internal Security Agency, the man was a player of the Polish 1. Liga hockey club.

The court arrested him for three months. The Russian man’s full name hasn’t been made public — according to Gazeta Wyborcza, the detainee is Maxim S. No other information has been shared.

The Polish Prosecutor’s Office reports that the Russian national was “carrying out activities involving, among others, identifying critical infrastructure in several voivodeships”.

According to the investigation, the detainee has been in Poland since October 2021. He was charged with participation in an organised criminal group and working for foreign intelligence. He faces up to 10 years behind bars.

Ziobro clarified that the man was the 14th detained member of the Russian spy network.