Selected Aspects of Cooperation Between the Polish Special Services and the Security Service of Ukraine in the Contex of the War Between Russia and Ukraine. Impact on the Security of Poland and Ukraine

Abstract

The article analyzes selected areas of cooperation between Polish special services and the Se-curity Service of Ukraine (SBU) in the context of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war. The evolution of oper-ational relations after 2014 is presented, when Russia's annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of armed conflict in Donbas became catalysts for strengthening intelligence cooperation between the two states. Par-ticular attention is paid to the intensification of activities following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which gave the cooperation a new strategic and operational dimension, posing unprecedented challenges for the services of both countries in terms of coordinating activities under conditions of an active armed conflict. Key areas of cooperation are discussed, including the exchange of intelligence and counter-intelligence information, joint efforts to counter Russian influence operations and disinformation, combating cyber threats targeting state infrastructure, and the protection of critical infrastructure in both countries. The article argues that the effectiveness of this cooperation depends not only on the resources and operational capabilities of the parties involved, but also on the level of mutual institutional trust and the compatibility of procedures and classified information-sharing standards developed within both bilateral structures and broader multilateral formats. The article emphasizes the significance of synergizing the efforts of both states for regional security in Central and Eastern Europe, while identifying the main structural and operational challenges. These include systemic differences arising from distinct legal and institutional traditions, opera-tional pressure generated by Russia's active conduct across kinetic, informational, and cyber domains, and the need for further harmonization of procedures within the framework of Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration processes. An important element of the analysis is also an assessment of the impact of this cooperation on the defense capabilities and internal security of both Poland and Ukraine. The analysis presents Polish-Ukrainian cooperation at the level of special services as a significant element in strengthening the resilience of states in the region against the aggressive policy of the Russian Federation, as well as an example of the practical realization of allied solidarity under conditions of an ongoing armed conflict. The conclusions drawn from the analysis may serve as a reference point for further research into the security architecture of the region and the role of bilateral cooperation within the collective defense system.