Kyrylo Molchanov, a Russian FSB agent has been detained in Poland by Polish and Ukrainian law enforcement agencies. The man, a media expert for Russian state-controlled media, was reportedly a member of the so-called Viktor Medvedchuk group and worked to spread Russian influence within the European Union. Kyrylo Molchanov, a Ukrainian citizen, moved to Russia in 2022, where he worked as a commentator for Kremlin-affiliated media outlets.
Russian Agent Detained in Poland: Kyrylo Molchanov
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), in cooperation with the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine and Polish law enforcement authorities, carried out a multi-stage international special operation within the EU. According to the SBU, this marks the first time since the start of Russia’s invasion that a Russian agent operating against Ukraine in the information sphere has been extradited to Ukraine at the request of the SBU.
Kyrylo Molchanov was initially held in custody in Poland but has now been transferred to a pre-trial detention center in Kyiv. According to the Security Service of Ukraine, he was involved in the activities of Viktor Medvedchuk, who is suspected of treason in Ukraine.
Who Is Viktor Medvedchuk?
At the beginning of 2022, Viktor Medvedchuk was exchanged for officers and commanders of the Azov Regiment. He is closely connected to Vladimir Putin and spent many years involved in pro-Russian political parties in Ukraine. Before the European Parliament elections, the Czech Military Counterintelligence Service revealed that Medvedchuk had created a network of influence agents across Europe. Their mission was to recruit allies among European politicians and, using Moscow’s financial backing, influence election outcomes within the European Union.
Related: Belgium Confirms Russian Influence Network Operated on Its Territory
Regarding Kyrylo Molchanov, case materials indicate that he was recruited and worked simultaneously for two Russian intelligence agencies—the FSB and the Foreign Intelligence Service. Acting on Kremlin orders, he worked to discredit Ukraine internationally and contributed to destabilizing the internal affairs of Kyiv’s partner countries.
In 2022, Molchanov moved to Russia, where he became a key figure in Kremlin-backed media projects such as Inna Ukraina and Voice of Europe. He was also a frequent guest on Vladimir Solovyov’s talk show. According to SBU records, in 2023 alone, he participated in 35 live Kremlin propaganda broadcasts, where he justified Russia’s military aggression and spread false information about Ukraine.
Additionally, he organized street protests across the EU in the Kremlin’s interest, calling for the withdrawal of international support for Ukraine.
Photo: Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).
Russian Influence Agent Also Criticized “His Own”
Another key aspect of the detainee’s subversive activities was publicly calling for terrorist attacks in Ukraine. To achieve this, the propagandist used a Telegram channel where he regularly “shared” messages from Russian intelligence service chatbots, which collected reconnaissance information on Ukraine’s Defense Forces.
Kyrylo Molchanov was widely covered in Ukrainian media and on platforms combating Russian propaganda. Until 2022, he served as deputy director of the Ukrainian Institute for Political Analysis and Management (UIAMP), an organization whose experts often handled PR for certain politicians. He frequently appeared on Viktor Medvedchuk’s television channels, where, according to the monitoring center Detector Media, he criticized opponents of his pro-Russian party, Opposition Platform – For Life!, as well as various pro-Western initiatives.
According to Detector Media, ahead of Ukraine’s 2019 parliamentary elections, Kyrylo Molchanov fabricated a conspiracy theory suggesting that the People’s Front party, through the Central Election Commission, was attempting to discredit the elections. His rhetoric often emphasized divisions among Ukrainians based on language, history, and religion. He also claimed that if Ukraine pursued a pro-European course, the European Union would partially strip it of its sovereignty.
Who Is Kyrylo Molchanov?
After February 24, 2022, Kyrylo Molchanov relocated to Russia. According to the investigative program Schemes, he is part of Drugaya Ukraina (Another Ukraine)—a political project led by Viktor Medvedchuk operating in Russia. This group consists of former political analysts and journalists who previously promoted Medvedchuk in Ukraine.
Molchanov became a regular guest on Russian propaganda political programs and blogs, where he was introduced as the “Director of the Institute for Research on the Consequences of the War in Ukraine.” The institute’s website is in English and claims that its headquarters are located in Berlin. Even in early 2023, during the second year of the invasion, some Ukrainian bloggers still referred to Molchanov as a Ukrainian political analyst.
Arrest in Poland for Espionage
According to Poland’s Internal Security Agency (ABW), the Ukrainian suspect was arrested in the Mazovian Voivodeship. The investigation revealed that he was allegedly spying on military sites in Poland on behalf of Russian intelligence services.
The prosecutor’s office launched an investigation and charged Molchanov with participating in Russian intelligence operations against Poland. The Warsaw District Court ordered his detention for three months. Molchanov himself explained that he acted due to his “ideological ties to Russia.”
Since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Poland has detained 44 individuals on charges of espionage or sabotage for Russia or Belarus. Among them are Russians, Belarusians, Ukrainians, and Poles.
