Four suspects face Warsaw trial for Russian-ordered arson attacks on malls

A district court in Warsaw opened a trial against four men—three Ukrainians (Oleksandr H., Vitalii K., Pavlo T.) and a Belarusian (Stepan K.)—who prosecutors claim formed a criminal group that executed arson attacks on behalf of Russia’s foreign intelligence service in April and May 2024. The alleged sabotage includes the fire that destroyed the Marywilska 44 shopping centre, a blaze at an OBI home-improvement store, and an IKEA outlet in Vilnius, with plans for a similar attack in Riga.

Under Poland’s espionage law, the offenses carry sentences ranging from ten years to life imprisonment. A fifth suspect, Daniil B., was jailed in Lithuania for the Vilnius IKEA fire and could not be extradited, so the trial continued without him. The defendants also face charges for participation in an organised terrorist group and for an assault in the village of Wólka Kosowska. The proceedings are closed to the public for national-security reasons, reflecting heightened tensions after Poland closed Russian consulates following earlier sabotage incidents.