Russian Suspected of Cyberattacks on Polish and EU Companies Detained in Krakow

A 23-year-old Russian citizen suspected of interfering with the IT systems of Polish and European companies has been detained in Poland. He was taken into custody for three months.

According to the Central Bureau for Combating Cybercrime (CBZC), the detainee worked as a truck driver and was also involved in hacking websites.

The man was detained on November 16 after investigators established his involvement in hacking the security of an online retailer and gaining unauthorized access to the company’s IT infrastructure.

The investigation reports that he changed the structure of the databases, which could have had serious consequences for business operations and the security of customer data.

The CBZC found that some of the attacks were carried out directly from the restroom of the truck he used to travel around Europe during his main job.

Prosecutors are also checking the suspect’s possible connection to other incidents directed not only against companies in Poland but also in EU countries.

Law enforcement agencies emphasize that the case will continue to develop and do not rule out additional detentions and new charges.

Polish Minister of the Interior Marcin Kierwinski, in turn, also confirmed the above facts from CBZC.

In addition, the CBZC found that in 2022 the suspect illegally crossed the Polish border, and in 2023 he was granted refugee status.

The prosecutor’s office insisted on isolating the suspect during the investigation, and a court in Krakow ordered a temporary arrest for three months.

According to TVN24, a CBZC operative said that the detainee explained his actions by financial motivation.

As a reminder, Russian hackers recently attacked a hydroelectric power plant in Poland.