Poland charges six with trying to smuggle sanctioned equipment to Russia

A Russian FPV combat drone with red propellers is on display during a press presentation of the "Ukraine Museum" in the "Berlin Story Bunker" on February 23, 2026 in Berlin, one day before the exhibition's opening to the public and the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion in Ukraine. (AFP)

WARSAW: Four ‌Belarusians and two Poles were detained and charged with attempting to smuggle to Russia ​devices used to automate the production of integrated circuits, used, among others, in the assembly of combat drones, Polish prosecutors said.
Warsaw has been warning of Russian and Belarusian attempts to destabilize countries backing ‌Ukraine after ‌Russia invaded the country ​on ‌February ⁠24, ​2022.
On Wednesday, ⁠Polish prosecutors said the suspects were detained on February 18 and charged with attempting to smuggle through Belarus strategically significant equipment, which is under sanctions and which could ⁠be used in the production ‌of military technology.
“Violation ‌of the provisions of ​the sanctions ‌act is classified as a crime, ‌punishable by imprisonment for a period of no less than three years,” prosecutors said in a statement.
Three suspects were ‌placed in pretrial detention for a period of three months, ⁠while ⁠the remaining three were placed under police supervision, bail, and a ban on leaving the country.
“Earlier actions by officers of the National Revenue Administration helped thwart an attempt to smuggle a machine, which contributed to the disruption of potential supplies of military equipment to the ​troops of the ​Russian Federation operating in eastern Ukraine,” prosecutors said.