Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport in Poland in 2022. Reuters
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport in Poland in 2022. Reuters
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport in Poland in 2022. Reuters
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport in Poland in 2022. Reuters

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Europe

Zelenskyy assassination plot: Polish police arrest man accused of spying for Russia

Polish citizen accused of preparing to pass airport security information to Russian agents

Gillian Duncan
Gillian Duncan

April 19, 2024

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Police in Poland have arrested a man suspected of being involved in a Russian plot to assassinate Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Polish prosecutors said the Polish citizen, named as Pawel K, is accused of being prepared to pass airport security information to Russian agents.

The suspect, who was arrested in Poland on Wednesday, faces eight years in prison if convicted under espionage laws.

The man was allegedly seeking contact with Russians directly involved in the war in Ukraine and was expected to pass on detailed information about the Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport in south-eastern Poland, near the border with Ukraine, which is a gateway for international military and humanitarian supplies for Ukraine.

Mr Zelenskyy has frequently used Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport on international trips, as he seeks to rally support for his country more than two years into Russia’s full-scale invasion.

It also serves world leaders and politicians travelling in and out of Ukraine.

Lying 100km from a border crossing at Medyka, the airport, which is under the control of US troops, has been used as the main hub for western military aid to Ukraine.

The investigation has been carried out in close co-ordination between Polish and Ukrainian authorities and key evidence in the case was obtained from the Ukrainian side, prosecutors said.

Patriot missiles are positioned beside Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport in south-western Poland near the Ukraine border. AP
Patriot missiles are positioned beside Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport in south-western Poland near the Ukraine border. AP

Meanwhile, German authorities said they had arrested two men suspected of spying for Russia and membership of a terrorist group planning acts of sabotage, a case Interior Minister Nancy Faeser called “particularly serious”.

The two, identified only as Dieter S and Alexander J in line with German privacy rules, were arrested on Wednesday in the Bavarian city of Bayreuth, Germany's federal prosecutors said.

One of the men is accused of agreeing to carry out attacks on potential targets including US military facilities with the aim of sabotaging aid for Ukraine.

A number of people, including a dual Russian-Spanish citizen, have been arrested in Poland on allegations of spying for Russia since Moscow launched its attack on Ukraine in February 2022.

EU member Poland has been a staunch supporter of neighbouring Ukraine and Mr Zelenskyy in fending off Russia’s aggression of more than two years.

The Ukrainian President said in an interview with The Sun last year that his intelligence services had foiled at least five or six plots to kill him.

Ukraine-Russia conflict latest - in pictures

Ukrainian rescuers at the site of a rocket attack on a residential building in Dnipro, south-eastern Ukraine. EPA
Ukrainian rescuers at the site of a rocket attack on a residential building in Dnipro, south-eastern Ukraine. EPA
Rescues carry a person wounded by a Russian missile strike in Dnipro. Reuters
Rescues carry a person wounded by a Russian missile strike in Dnipro. Reuters
Rescuers tackle a blaze at a building struck by Russian bombs, in Dnipro. AP
Rescuers tackle a blaze at a building struck by Russian bombs, in Dnipro. AP
An apartment building hit by a Russian missile strike in Dnipro. Reuters
An apartment building hit by a Russian missile strike in Dnipro. Reuters
Ukrainian soldiers fire at Russian positions near the town of Kupyansk, Kharkiv Region. AFP
Ukrainian soldiers fire at Russian positions near the town of Kupyansk, Kharkiv Region. AFP
A building destroyed by a Russian air strike in the front-line town of Orikhiv. AP
A building destroyed by a Russian air strike in the front-line town of Orikhiv. AP
A dog stands on the rubble as rescuers work at the site of a destroyed building during a Russian missile strike in Chernihiv. Reuters
A dog stands on the rubble as rescuers work at the site of a destroyed building during a Russian missile strike in Chernihiv. Reuters
A Ukrainian serviceman works on an FPV drone in a workshop in the Donetsk region. Reuters
A Ukrainian serviceman works on an FPV drone in a workshop in the Donetsk region. Reuters
Local resident Kateryna, 77-years-old, walks with a litter of puppies, which she feeds in the yard of her bomb-damaged apartment block in the town of Kurakhove. AFP
Local resident Kateryna, 77-years-old, walks with a litter of puppies, which she feeds in the yard of her bomb-damaged apartment block in the town of Kurakhove. AFP
Ukrainian rescuers at the scene of a missile strike near a residential building, in Zaporizhzhia. EPA
Ukrainian rescuers at the scene of a missile strike near a residential building, in Zaporizhzhia. EPA
A woman looks at the damage in her flat after debris from a missile strike hit nearby, in Kyiv. EPA
A woman looks at the damage in her flat after debris from a missile strike hit nearby, in Kyiv. EPA
Ukrainian firefighters at the scene of a missile strike in Kyiv. EPA
Ukrainian firefighters at the scene of a missile strike in Kyiv. EPA
Ukrainian servicemen take part in military training at an undisclosed location near the frontline. EPA
Ukrainian servicemen take part in military training at an undisclosed location near the frontline. EPA
Ukrainian troops run near the site of a rocket attack on an industrial building, in Kharkiv. EPA
Ukrainian troops run near the site of a rocket attack on an industrial building, in Kharkiv. EPA
A pilot operates a drone at a training ground in the Kyiv region. AFP
A pilot operates a drone at a training ground in the Kyiv region. AFP
Ukrainian and Russian soldiers are depicted in a tug-of-war on a memorial in Izium, Kharkiv region. AP
Ukrainian and Russian soldiers are depicted in a tug-of-war on a memorial in Izium, Kharkiv region. AP
A man looks at his home in a damaged apartment building in Izium, Kharkiv. AP
A man looks at his home in a damaged apartment building in Izium, Kharkiv. AP
Ukrainian civilian women are trained to use weapons, in Kyiv. AFP
Ukrainian civilian women are trained to use weapons, in Kyiv. AFP
A Ukrainian soldier mans a position as new recruits receive training at an undisclosed location in the Donetsk region. EPA
A Ukrainian soldier mans a position as new recruits receive training at an undisclosed location in the Donetsk region. EPA
A man pays tribute at a makeshift memorial for fallen Ukrainian soldiers, at the Independence Square in Kyiv. AFP
A man pays tribute at a makeshift memorial for fallen Ukrainian soldiers, at the Independence Square in Kyiv. AFP
An emergency worker at the scene of a Russian attack in Odesa. AP
An emergency worker at the scene of a Russian attack in Odesa. AP
Ukrainian recruits are trained by members of the Danish military, in the east of England. AP
Ukrainian recruits are trained by members of the Danish military, in the east of England. AP
Danylo, commander of an engineering and sapper company of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, inspects pyramidal anti-tank obstacles known as 'dragon's teeth' before installing them into a new fortification line in Zaporizhzhia region. Reuters
Danylo, commander of an engineering and sapper company of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, inspects pyramidal anti-tank obstacles known as 'dragon's teeth' before installing them into a new fortification line in Zaporizhzhia region. Reuters
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Publisher: Konami

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

Rating: 4.5/5

BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

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Neil Thomson – THE BIO

Family: I am happily married to my wife Liz and we have two children together.

Favourite music: Rock music. I started at a young age due to my father’s influence. He played in an Indian rock band The Flintstones who were once asked by Apple Records to fly over to England to perform there.

Favourite book: I constantly find myself reading The Bible.

Favourite film: The Greatest Showman.

Favourite holiday destination: I love visiting Melbourne as I have family there and it’s a wonderful place. New York at Christmas is also magical.

Favourite food: I went to boarding school so I like any cuisine really.

While you're here

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(Rotana)

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Australia World Cup squad

Aaron Finch (capt), Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Steve Smith, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Jhye Richardson, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Lyon, Adam Zampa

Abu Dhabi GP starting grid

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2 Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)

3 Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)

4 Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)

5 Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull)

6 Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

7 Romain Grosjean (Haas)

8 Charles Leclerc (Sauber)

9 Esteban Ocon (Force India)

10 Nico Hulkenberg (Renault)

11 Carlos Sainz (Renault)

12 Marcus Ericsson (Sauber)

13 Kevin Magnussen (Haas)

14 Sergio Perez (Force India)

15 Fernando Alonso (McLaren)

16 Brendon Hartley (Toro Rosso)

17 Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso)

18 Stoffe Vandoorne (McLaren)

19 Sergey Sirotkin (Williams)

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Defence review at a glance

• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”

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• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.

• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%

• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade

• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels

ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogenChromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxideUltramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica contentOphiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on landOlivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour

From Zero

Artist: Linkin Park

Label: Warner Records

Number of tracks: 11

Rating: 4/5

Updated: April 19, 2024, 9:30 AM
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