Russian couple sentenced to prison in Poland for spying for Russia

A Russian couple has been sentenced to prison by a Polish court after convicting them of spying for Russia's secret services and passing information harmful to Poland.

Source: Polish news portal RMF24, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The District Court in Sosnowiec sentenced Igor R. to seven years in prison for espionage and sending a parcel containing explosives, while Irina R. was sentenced to three years in prison for aiding and abetting espionage.

Igor R. and Irina R. were arrested in July 2024 and have remained in custody ever since.

The charge was filed with the District Court in Sosnowiec in October 2025. The trial began in January 2026 and has been held behind closed doors from the outset.

According to investigators, Igor R. cooperated with Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) against Poland between February and August 2022. Among other things, he collected and passed on information about Russian opposition activists living in Poland, as well as individuals and organisations assisting them.

Igor R. transferred the collected information to his wife, Irina R., on an encrypted electronic storage device so that she could pass it on to the FSB in Russia. Investigators say Irina R. was expected to take steps in Russia to deliver the encrypted data to the FSB.

The National Prosecutor's Office also accused Igor R. of participating in sending and arranging the receipt of a parcel containing explosives transported by a courier company together with two Ukrainian nationals and one Russian national in July 2024.

The parcel contained explosive devices and nitroglycerine. It was discovered at a courier company's warehouse in Łódź Voivodeship.

Background: Recently, two people were detained in Poland on suspicion of spying for Belarus.

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