Poland has decided to shut down its last remaining Russian consulate in Gdansk, a move announced by Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski during an address to the Polish parliament. The decision comes after several instances of railway sabotage in Poland, which local authorities have attributed to Russian involvement. Sikorski emphasized that Poland’s actions do not signify a complete severance of diplomatic ties with Russia. Moscow has responded strongly, with Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova indicating that Russia will reduce Poland’s diplomatic presence in the country. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the situation as a complete deterioration of relations, calling the Polish decision a lack of common sense.
The decision to close the Gdansk consulate follows a series of reciprocal measures in the bilateral relationship since 2024. In May, Poland closed the Russian consulate in Krakow after citing Moscow’s alleged involvement in a May 2024 fire at a Warsaw mall. Russia retaliated 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.
Recent tensions escalated with the two railway sabotage incidents on Sunday and Monday, targeting lines used to transport Western military aid to Ukraine. In at least one case, a military-grade C4 explosive was used, according to Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Authorities have identified two Ukrainians as suspects, alleging both worked for Russian intelligence and fled to Belarus after the attacks. Peskov dismissed any Russian role in the incidents, claiming the sabotage was an act of ‘extreme provocation’ from Warsaw. However, the events have deepened the mistrust between the two nations, leading to this latest diplomatic confrontation.
Poland currently maintains an embassy with a consular section in Moscow and a consulate in Irkutsk in Siberia. Despite the closure of the Gdansk consulate, the country’s remaining diplomatic representation in Russia is not entirely eliminated. Russia’s response will further strain the bilateral relationship, potentially impacting economic and political cooperation between the two countries. The situation highlights the broader context of Europe’s shifting alliances and the complex dynamics of international diplomacy amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions.