An attempt to attack Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Rzeszów Airport in southeastern Poland was recently foiled in Poland, the head of Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) revealed on Monday during a press conference. The incident was also confirmed by Poland’s head of special security services, Tomasz Siemoniak, who said it took place in April 2024. The information was made public today before President Zelenskyy started his visit to the UK.
Speaking to journalists, SBU chief Vasyl Maliuk confirmed that Ukrainian counterintelligence had disrupted not one but two separate plots to kill the president — one in Kyiv last year, and another in Poland. He declined to specify when the Rzeszów Airport incident occurred.
“The objective was the physical elimination of President Zelenskyy during his presence at Rzeszów Airport,” Maliuk said. “Several methods were considered, including the use of an FPV drone and a sniper.”
According to Ukrainian news agency Interfax-Ukrajina, the would-be assassin was allegedly a retired Polish military officer who had been recruited „decades ago„.
“We carried out the entire operation and apprehended the suspect. Our Polish counterparts acted with professionalism — it was a joint effort,” said Vasyl Maliuk, head of Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), speaking about the failed plot to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Maliuk expressed his gratitude to Poland’s Internal Security Agency (ABW), describing it as the SBU’s counterpart and a key partner in safeguarding security on Polish soil.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the ABW — Poland’s internal security service. Together, we successfully carried out a crucial criminal investigation,” he added.
Polish authorities have confirmed that a plot to assassinate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Rzeszów Airport was disrupted in April 2024, resulting in the arrest of a Polish national accused of attempting to collaborate with Russian intelligence.
“We are working closely with Ukrainian services to ensure President Zelenskyy’s safety,” wrote Tomasz Siemoniak, Poland’s Minister for Security Services, in a statement published on X. “The case, concerning preparations for an attempt on the Ukrainian president’s life, culminated in the detention and subsequent pre-trial arrest of a Polish citizen by the Internal Security Agency (ABW).”
Siemoniak added that a formal indictment was filed with the court on 19 May 2025.
The Polish Ministry of the Interior and Administration also weighed in. Spokesman Jacek Dobrzyński referred to a previously released statement, noting that on 17 April 2024, ABW officers apprehended a suspect accused of expressing willingness to cooperate with Russian military intelligence.
The man in question, identified only as Paweł K., was detained in the Lublin region. According to investigators, he had offered to act on behalf of the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence agency. His assigned tasks allegedly included gathering detailed intelligence on Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport — a critical logistical hub for military aid flowing into Ukraine.
The case underscores growing concerns over Russian espionage and subversion efforts within NATO member states amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Source: PAP
Photo: X @ukr_week_en
Tomasz Modrzejewski
