**Poland Charges Two Ukrainians for Arson Attack on Shopping Centre**
In a significant development, Polish prosecutors have charged two Ukrainian citizens with orchestrating the arson attack on the Marywilska Shopping Centre in Warsaw on May 12, 2024. The decision comes after Prime Minister Donald Tusk directly accused Russian special services of being behind the destructive incident.
**A Year-Long Investigation**
The massive fire that destroyed the shopping center was a deliberately planned act of sabotage targeting a major commercial facility in the European Union. Investigators revealed that the criminal group responsible is also linked to another significant incident – the IKEA store fire in Vilnius on May 9, 2024.
**Details of the Alleged Plot**
According to prosecutors, Daniil B., a young Ukrainian national born in 2006, received specific instructions from Oleksander V., who was located in Russia. On May 11, 2024, Daniil B. was ordered to travel near the Marywilska 44 Shopping Centre and record the fire and emergency response. The order specified an exact time during the night of May 12, 2024, when the fire would break out.
**Severe Punishment Possible**
The prosecution alleges that Oleksander V. instructed Daniil B. to send the recorded video as proof of task completion and for potential publication on Russian propaganda portals. The defendants could face imprisonment of no less than 10 years or even life imprisonment under Article 130 § 7 of the Polish Criminal Code.
**Commentary**
The charges against the two Ukrainians come after a year-long investigation involving 55 prosecutors and 100 police officers who spent 121 days examining the site. Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed the Russian connection, saying that Polish authorities “precisely know” the fire was a coordinated arson attack.
**Analysis**
This development highlights the increasing tensions between Poland and Russia in recent years. The charges against the two Ukrainians suggest that Russian intelligence services are actively involved in orchestrating destructive incidents on Polish soil. This has significant implications for regional security and may lead to further diplomatic fallout between Poland and Russia.
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