Poland Closes Russian Consulate Amid Sabotage Accusations

Poland is shutting down the Russian consulate in Krakow following evidence of Russian involvement in a major fire at a Warsaw shopping centre. This move intensifies already strained relations between the countries, which worsened after Russia's Ukraine invasion. Russia denied the accusations and vowed a response.

Poland has announced the closure of the Russian consulate in Krakow after uncovering evidence linking Moscow to a devastating blaze that nearly destroyed a shopping centre in Warsaw earlier this year, according to the Polish foreign minister.

The diplomatic rift between Warsaw and Moscow continues to widen, exacerbated by events following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Polish officials allege a series of Russian sabotage efforts, including the recent arson, which Russia refutes. Prime Minister Donald Tusk confidently cited Russian secret services as the culprits behind the fire incident.

Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski declared the consulate's closure on X, while the Russian foreign ministry, via RIA, accused Poland of willfully harming bilateral relations. Poland previously shuttered a Russian consulate in Poznan for similar reasons, igniting a tit-for-tat closure of a Polish consulate in Russia.

(With inputs from agencies.)