Polish minister: Russians are recruiting Poles for money to disrupt the presidential elections.

The Polish Minister of Digital Affairs, Krzysztof Gawkowski, expressed concern regarding operations by Russian intelligence aimed at recruiting Polish citizens to destabilize the country ahead of the presidential elections.

In a conversation with the Polish Foreign Minister, Gawkowski claims that Russia is attempting to exploit certain individuals in Poland, particularly to spread disinformation online, reports RMF24 radio.

“Russian intelligence services have begun searching for Poles to assist in destabilizing the situation in the country. I urge everyone to avoid actions that could harm our own nation,” Gawkowski stated.

The minister emphasized the increasing risks of cyberwarfare in Europe, highlighting that any interaction with foreign intelligence is a serious offense under Polish law.

“Even minimal interaction with Russian special services is classified as espionage and is punishable by imprisonment,” he warned.

Gawkowski also reported that since January, Russian military intelligence has intensified efforts to pursue Polish citizens.

“We are observing information in cyberspace, particularly in the Darknet, regarding offers from the hacker group APT or others linked to Russia. These offers are specifically designed to recruit Poles for actions against their own state, including financial rewards for such activities,” he explained.

The minister announced plans to implement a strategy in cyberspace to protect the upcoming elections.

Background. Recall that Elon Musk referred to former European Commissioner Thierry Breton as a “tyrant” for suggesting election control, who previously stated: “It was canceled in Romania, it will be canceled in Germany too.”