In a dramatic twist in the escalating geopolitical tensions between Russia, Belarus, and the West, the KGB counterintelligence service of Belarus has detained three men accused of spying on behalf of Polish intelligence. Two Polish nationals, Tomasz Beraza and Jerzy Żywolewski, and a Belarusian military officer, Dzmitry Paznyakou, allegedly sought information on the location of Russian nuclear weapons reportedly stationed in Belarus.
Belarusian state media has claimed that the suspects had been working together for over a decade, gathering military intelligence and attempting to uncover details about Russian nuclear arms deployed in Belarusian territory. According to Russian military expert Vasily Dandykin, the alleged spies were investigating critical military infrastructure, including the Iskander missile systems recently transferred to Belarus under the Russia-Belarus alliance.
“They are not looking for potatoes or cracklings,” Dandykin commented, emphasizing that the espionage focused on military assets and joint operations between Moscow and Minsk. “They are very concerned about our deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus, which explains why Poland has increased its intelligence activity along the border.”
The accused have already faced severe consequences. Beraza has been sentenced to 14 years in a Belarusian penal colony following a closed-door trial. Żywolewski has received a four-year sentence, while Paznyakou awaits judgment. Belarus, which has not abolished the death penalty, could impose harsher punishments unless a diplomatic exchange deal is negotiated.
The Kremlin has seized on the incident to bolster its narrative of Western hostility. Russian state media framed the espionage case as evidence of “Russophobia” and “Belorussiaphobia,” accusing NATO countries of desperation as tensions over Ukraine persist.
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, a staunch ally of Vladimir Putin, has reinforced Belarus’s role as a strategic partner in Russia’s military agenda. Since agreeing to host Russian nuclear weapons, Belarus has become a focal point for espionage and international scrutiny.
Critics argue that the detentions and subsequent propaganda films broadcast by Belarus 1 TV are part of an effort to solidify domestic support and deflect attention from internal unrest. Regardless, the case highlights the growing stakes in Eastern Europe, where espionage, military build-ups, and alliances are reshaping the geopolitical landscape.
As Poland tightens its border security and NATO monitors the situation closely, the fallout from this latest espionage drama continues to unfold.