A prosecutor has charged Belarusian citizen Stepan K. with arson in connection with the April 2024 fire at a large home improvement store in Warsaw. Authorities have determined that the suspect acted on behalf of Russian intelligence. “He triggered the fire remotely and recorded everything on his phone,” reports Rzeczpospolita on Wednesday.
Phone Recording as Key Evidence
The National Prosecutor’s Office stated that the evidence collected at the scene confirmed that the fire was deliberately set.
Investigators analyzed forensic evidence, surveillance footage, and expert reports, which provided sufficient grounds to suspect that Stepan K. was responsible. On April 13, 2024, he allegedly poured a flammable liquid inside the store and left devices that allowed for remote ignition.
During the night of April 13–14, the device was activated, and the fire broke out. Authorities also established that Stepan K. filmed his actions to document the act of sabotage. Parts of this footage were later published on Russian propaganda websites.
Additionally, investigators determined that the suspect committed the arson on behalf of a foreign intelligence service—specifically, the Russian Federation’s intelligence agency—under orders from Russian special services.
Damages Estimated at 3.5 Million PLN
Media reports initially suggested the fire was minor and was quickly contained by the store’s systems. However, Rzeczpospolita clarifies that the fire was serious, causing damages estimated at around 3.5 million PLN. Thanks to the fire suppression systems and firefighters’ swift response, the entire store did not burn down. No casualties were reported, as the fire broke out at night when the store—usually crowded with shoppers—was empty.
The newspaper also notes that the investigation was launched by the Mazovian Department for Organized Crime and Corruption of the National Prosecutor’s Office, with assistance from officers of the Warsaw Metropolitan Police’s Criminal Terrorism and Homicide Division.
On Monday, the arsonist was formally charged and placed in pretrial detention for three months.
“K. had previously been held in a Polish jail as part of a sabotage group that included recently convicted Ukrainian Serhiy S. and detained Tricity boxer Olgierd L. However, in that case, he was allegedly involved but not the direct perpetrator. In contrast, in Warsaw, he set fire to the shopping center on Radzymińska Street himself,” Rzeczpospolita reports.
Two Charges
The Belarusian faces charges under Article 130, Paragraph 7, related to acts of diversion and sabotage—a special form of espionage punishable by up to life imprisonment. The second charge concerns the deliberate setting of a fire, which endangered human life, health, or property on a large scale.
The investigation involving Stepan K. has broader implications, as it also pertains to other large-scale store arsons across Poland and other Central and Eastern European countries, including Lithuania.