Moscow ordered the closure Friday of Poland’s Consulate within the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad in a tit-for-tat transfer as family members between the nations stay strained over a Warsaw fireplace that Poland alleges used to be Russian sabotage.
Russia’s Overseas Ministry mentioned the most recent closure used to be retaliation for Poland’s determination in Would possibly 2025 to near the Russian Consulate in Krakow. “No unfriendly assault in opposition to our nation will stay with out an acceptable response and penalties,” the Russian company mentioned.
Poland’s closure in Krakow used to be in keeping with a blaze at a Warsaw buying groceries middle that Polish High Minister Donald Tusk has mentioned used to be arson commissioned via Russian safety products and services.
Noone used to be killed within the Would possibly 12, 2024 fireplace on the Marywilska 44 buying groceries middle, however it destroyed a market of one,400 stores and repair issues, with most of the distributors from Warsaw’s Vietnamese neighborhood.
Russia has denied its involvement within the Marywilska fireplace and different acts of sabotage in Poland that Warsaw officers have attributed to Moscow.
Poland final 12 months ordered the closure of the Russian Consulate in Poznan, in keeping with acts of sabotage, together with arson assaults, that officers mentioned had been backed via Moscow.
The newest closure leaves just one Russian Consulate in Poland, within the town of Gdansk.
Russian and Polish family members have soured since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2024, with Warsaw staunchly supporting Kyiv and offering assist.
There even have been emerging issues that Russia is making an attempt to destabilize Europe via covert operations around the continent.
On Tuesday a British jury convicted 3 males of arson in an assault on an east London warehouse that used to be storing apparatus destined for Ukraine. Government mentioned Russian intelligence used to be at the back of the plot.
Nations alongside NATO’s japanese flank, like Poland and the Baltic states, really feel particularly inclined. In March, Lithuania accused Russia of sporting out an arson assault at an IKEA retailer within the capital, Vilnius, final 12 months.
