Why did Poland dismiss a general involved in assisting Ukraine?

A new scandal is unfolding in Poland! The Ministry of National Defence has all of a sudden dismissed high-ranking General Jaroslaw Gromadzinski from his position as Eurocorps commander. The reason was an ongoing investigation under the Poland's Classified Information Act.

According to German media reports, the allegations against the general involve espionage. Read more about the scandal and its possible reasons in the article by international expert Stanislav Zhelikhovskyi - Polish resignation with a Ukrainian Trace. All about "spy" scandal in Warsaw.

The Eurocorps is a rapid reaction military structure founded by Germany and France in 1992. Over the next four years, Belgium, Spain, and Luxembourg, the so-called framework states, joined it. The Eurocorps can be used in operations under the auspices of the European Union, NATO and the UN, including humanitarian and rescue missions, as well as peacekeeping and peace support missions.

General Jaroslaw Gromadzinski became the first Pole to hold the position of its commander. During his service in Germany, he was responsible for training Ukrainian military personnel. Gromadzinski took over the Eurocorps less than a year ago, in late June of 2023.

Last week, the Military Counterintelligence Service of Poland initiated proceedings against the general due to "new information" received about him. Another officer, former Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Piotr Blazeusz, was immediately appointed to the position of Lieutenant General Jaroslaw Gromadzinski. Regarding the reasons for the urgent resignation of Jaroslaw Gromadzinski, it is only mentioned that this decision was made by the Law on the Protection of the Homeland of 11 March 2022, without any details.

The Military Counterintelligence Service of Poland also announced that the verification procedure could take up to six months. And in particularly justified cases, it may be extended for another six months. The information published in the media has become even more important.

German media reported that the decision regarding the Polish general is related to the exposure of a Russian influence network. This leads to the conclusion that the military is suspected of espionage. It is not specified though whether it is about Gromadzinski's latest position or previous ones, including activities related to assisting Ukraine.

In response to this, Gromadzinski posted a statement on social media stating that he has nothing to reproach himself for. Mariusz Cielma, the editor of the monthly magazine Nowa Technika Wojskowa, suggests that "someone wants the general to return to the country." A version regarding political motives has been also suggested by the former commander of the GROM unit, General Roman Polko.

He finds the way Gromadzinski's dismissal was handled strange and even questionable. In his opinion, "Western military personnel, looking at this carousel of resignations and nominations, wonder what determines them: is it a matter of substance, or is Poland introducing party nominees into international structures." He added that in this way "politicians tarnish our reputation in the international military environment."

Thus, it is not ruled out that the case may be related to a change in Poland's government. More precisely, with the desire of Prime Minister Donald Tusk to carry out a complete personnel renewal, getting rid of creatures of the previous authorities. The main thing is for this not to turn into a witch hunt.

Because in that case, it could create problems for cooperation in the military sphere with Ukraine.

And along with that, it will harm Poland's relations with international partners.

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