Ukrainians were detained in Poland for smuggling 12 Russians

Polish border guards in the town of Sanok detained two Ukrainian citizens who had organized the illegal smuggling of 12 Russian citizens across the Polish-Slovak border. 

According to RMF24, the incident occurred on March 31, 2026, during an inspection of transport routes leading from southern Europe. During the inspection of the bus, it was discovered that the passengers did not have any documents entitling them to stay in Poland or cross the border within the Schengen Area.

The investigation established that the detained Russians had previously applied for residence in Hungary and, by law, were required to remain there until the procedures were completed. The foreigners pleaded guilty to illegally crossing the border, for which they received six-month prison sentences suspended for two years. Additionally, they were banned from entering the Schengen Area, after which they were forced to leave Polish territory and departed for Belarus.

The organizers of the scheme—two Ukrainian drivers—also stood trial. They were sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for two years. This case highlights the tightening of controls at the EU’s internal borders, particularly on routes connecting Slovakia and Poland, against the backdrop of a general tightening of migration policy toward citizens of the aggressor country. Currently, Polish law enforcement continues to monitor southern routes to prevent new attempts at illegal transit.

The Polish prosecutor’s office has charged five individuals, including a Ukrainian, in connection with the arson of the Marywilska 44 shopping center in Warsaw in 2024, which authorities link to a Russian sabotage campaign against supporters of Ukraine.

Earlier in Vilnius, Ukrainian citizen Danylo Bardadym was sentenced to three years and four months in prison for setting fire to an IKEA store.