Polish security services have neutralized a sabotage operation orchestrated by Russia and Belarus that aimed to destabilize Poland, Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski said on September 9. Warsaw has repeatedly accused Moscow of attempting to destabilise Poland because of its role in supplying military aid to its neighbor Ukraine, allegations Russia has dismissed. Saboteurs, operating from Belarus in cooperation with Russia, penetrated local and central government institutions, including state-owned companies implementing military contracts, he said. "The Belarusian and Russian foreign services...had a specific goal: to extort information, to blackmail individuals and institutions, and to wage a de facto cyberwar," said Gawkowski, who is also minister for digital affairs. Gawkowski said cyberattacks have doubled since last year.
