Ex GRU Trainee's Wife Interpreted Polish Defence Minister's meeting with US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth

A controversy has erupted in Poland. Magdalena Fitas-Czuchnowska, a former wife of a GRU trained officer of WSI served as an interpreter during talks between U.S. Secretary and Polish Defence Minister

The GRU (Glavnoye Razvedyvatel'noye Upravleniye) was the Soviet Union’s military intelligence agency, responsible for espionage, special operations, and influencing foreign governments. Many of its operatives continued to play significant roles in Russian intelligence after the Soviet collapse.

Interpreter’s Past Raises Concerns

Magdalena Fitas-Czuchnowska, who was previously known as Fitas-Dukaczewska, was married to Marek Dukaczewski, the last head of Poland’s controversial Military Intelligence Services (WSI). Dukaczewski, a career intelligence officer, was trained by the GRU, the Soviet military intelligence agency notorious for its deep penetration of Western institutions during the Cold War.

Marek Dukaczewski’s GRU training diploma

Fitas-Czuchnowska worked as an interpreter for Polish governments from 1999 to 2015, translating high-level discussions with international leaders. She was a key figure in Polish-Russian diplomatic communications during the so-called "reset" in relations with Moscow. In April 2010, she served as the interpreter for then-Prime Minister Donald Tusk during his meetings with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Katyn and Smolensk, just days before the tragic Smolensk air disaster that killed Poland’s president and dozens of top officials.

Anti-American Bias? Interpreter’s Political Affiliation in Question

The revelation that Fitas-Czuchnowska interpreted at the high-level defense talks comes just days after her husband, Wojciech Czuchnowski, a journalist for the pro-government Gazeta Wyborcza, launched a public attack on Secretary Hegseth. On social media, Czuchnowski referred to Hegseth as a "tattooed ex-con dumbass." The offensive remark was widely shared, including by his wife, Fitas-Czuchnowska.

The incident raises concerns about the credibility of Poland’s diplomatic stance and has prompted accusations of an anti-American bias within certain circles of the government. The Ministry of National Defense had earlier assured the public of Poland’s strong alliance with the United States, emphasizing ongoing cooperation on NATO’s eastern flank. However, the presence of an interpreter with such ties at the negotiating table has led to speculation of an intentional provocation.

Polish lawmaker Andrzej Śliwka was among those criticizing the situation, stating:

"They dug General Bieniek out of formalin and brought in Trumpist hater Stróżyk. And next to Kosiniak-Kamysz sits Ms. Fitas-Czuchnowska. This is some kind of provocation!"

Political and Media Ties Under Scrutiny

Fitas-Czuchnowska and her husband are known for their strong opposition to Poland’s right-wing parties, particularly Law and Justice (PiS). Their political stance was even evident at their wedding, where decorations featured the "eight stars" symbol—a reference to an obscene anti-PiS slogan.

While the Polish government has not yet commented on the controversy, the revelation is expected to spark further debate about the political affiliations of officials and staff involved in sensitive state affairs, particularly in the context of national security and relations with key allies like the United States.