Poland has decided to close the last remaining Russian consulate in the country, located in Gdansk. This move was announced by Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, who cited several instances of railway sabotage in Poland, which authorities have blamed on Russia. The closure follows a series of escalating diplomatic tensions between the two nations. Russia, in turn, has vowed to retaliate by reducing Poland’s diplomatic presence in Russia and warned of the deepening deterioration of bilateral relations. The decision comes amid ongoing accusations of Russian involvement in attacks on infrastructure critical to the flow of Western military aid to Ukraine.
Sikorski announced the decision in an address to the Polish parliament on Wednesday, according to the Foreign Ministry. He emphasized that while Poland is closing the consulate, the country still intends to maintain diplomatic ties with Russia. This stance reflects a broader diplomatic strategy to navigate the complex geopolitical landscape while preserving strategic partnerships. The closure of the Gdansk consulate marks the culmination of a series of reciprocal diplomatic measures taken by both nations in recent months.
Poland currently maintains an embassy with a consular section in Moscow and a consulate in Irkutsk in Siberia. The decision follows two railway sabotage incidents on Sunday and Monday targeting lines used to transport Western military aid to Ukraine. In at least one of the cases, a military-grade C4 explosive was used, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said. Authorities later identified two Ukrainians as suspects, alleging both worked for Russian intelligence and fled to Belarus after the attacks. Peskov denied any Russian role in the incidents.
In May, Poland closed the Russian consulate in Krakow, citing Moscow’s alleged involvement in a May 2024 fire at a Warsaw mall. Russia responded in July by ordering the closure of Poland’s consulate in Kaliningrad. Last October, Warsaw shut the Russian consulate in Poznan, followed by Moscow’s closure of the Polish Consulate General in St. Petersburg in December. These reciprocal actions have significantly strained diplomatic relations, with Russia condemning the latest move as a complete breakdown of trust and a lack of common sense in international relations.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that “relations with Poland have completely deteriorated.” He said Warsaw’s apparent intention to “reduce to zero any possibility of consular or diplomatic relations” with Moscow underscores the state of bilateral ties. Peskov added that Poland’s latest decision “has nothing to do with common sense.” The Russian government has also vowed to mirror the step by reducing Poland’s diplomatic presence in Russia. This tit-for-tat approach reflects the broader context of escalating tensions between Poland and Russia over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the flow of military aid through Polish territory.
The closure of the Gdansk consulate is part of an ongoing diplomatic confrontation that has seen both countries take increasingly severe measures against each other’s diplomatic missions. These actions are likely to have further implications for the relationship between Poland and Russia, as well as the broader geopolitical landscape in Eastern Europe. While Poland seeks to assert its sovereignty and protect its national interests, Russia views the move as an existential threat to its influence in the region.