Russia has reacted with fury to the U.S. decision to approve a massive aid package for Ukraine, which includes advanced weapons. The Kremlin’s spokesman limited himself to saying that this will simply add to the casualties and damage to Ukraine, but the Russian national security council deputy chief and former president Dmitry Medvedev was far more forthright, calling it aid for a “bunch of neo-Nazis.”
However, it is the Financial Times revelations that the arms from the aid package will begin to flow through Poland very soon, as much of the arms have already been stored in the southeast of Poland near Rzeszów, close to the Ukrainian border.
This is causing concern to specialists such as the former intelligence service analyst Robert Cheda, as it makes Poland a direct target and should mean the country’s security services should be on prime alert to counter any attempt by the Russians to scupper the deliveries or to attack the region as revenge.
Cheda noted that Russia has already destroyed arms depots in Czechia, Bulgaria and Ukraine itself, even ahead of the war the Russians launched in 2022. Diversionary groups could already be operating in Poland, warns the expert.
“The Russians can now intensify certain actions, want to demonstratively do something in response to the American decision because it was visibly clear that they were furious,” said Cheda.
He is convinced that Rzeszów has for a long time been under close Russian scrutiny and that it is no accident that some rockets have fallen nearby. It cannot be ruled out that Russia could take a decision to escalate and attempt to destroy one of the arms depots located in Poland, warns Cheda.
