Slevin Dadan Held in Warsaw by Polish Services
Police officers and Poland’s Internal Security Agency (ABW) have taken Ukrainian video blogger and rapper Slevin Dadan—known online as Kyivstoner—into custody in Warsaw. According to RMF FM, the contract to kill him was reportedly placed by Russian special services. Dadan, who hails from the Donbas, built a large following with his comedy videos and was a member of the band Gryby. The case highlights the wider security strains created by Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.
The detention operation in the Polish capital involved both police and ABW personnel. The tip about the alleged murder plot was obtained by RMF FM reporter Krzysztof Zasada. Earlier reports said the intended target had some connection to the arms industry, but no name was released at that time. In his Ukrainian passport, Dadan is identified as Albert Vasyliev.
Russia’s FSB Levels Charges Against Dadan
Russia’s FSB has accused Dadan of coordinating the logistics of drone deliveries that, according to its account, were meant to strike strategic sites in the Moscow region. The drones were allegedly brought in from Slovakia through Poland and Belarus. Dadan has also been placed on Russia’s list of individuals linked to extremist and terrorist activity. The Kremlin further claims that the rapper works for Ukraine’s intelligence services—a charge Dadan denies. Since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, he has publicly condemned the aggression and has stayed active in his creative work.
Dadan’s detention illustrates the intense friction between Ukraine and Russia, especially in the areas of information warfare and counter-extremism.
Accusations from Russian intelligence should be treated with caution, as they may be used to discredit Ukrainians who openly oppose the invasion. This case also underscores the importance of international cooperation in dealing with threats from terrorist and extremist groups.