The Ministry of abroad Affairs of the Republic of Poland present called on the Russian Federation ambassador in Poland, Sergei Andreyev, to talk, which, as it later turned out, was not a regular diplomatic action. The Polish organization informed the Russian diplomat about the decision to retreat the consent to the functioning of the Russian consulate in Krakow.
The reason was the results of the investigation, which revealed the direct participation of Russian peculiar services in 1 of the most serious acts of sabotage in Poland in fresh years – arson of the Marywilska buying centre 44 in Warsaw.
The fire, which broke out on May 12, 2024, completely destroyed 1 of the largest buying malls in the capital, with about 1,400 shops and service points. Marivilska 44 was a place of work and trade for thousands of people, including a very large number of entrepreneurs of Vietnamese origin. The fire spread rapidly, destroying almost the full object within hours. Although no 1 died, the scale of material losses was immense – estimated at hundreds of millions of zlotys. For many families it was a individual drama, due to the fact that Marivilska was not only a place of work, but besides a origin of livelihood.
The first information of the fire indicated the anticipation of shorting the electrical strategy as the origin of the fire. However, in time, in the course of the investigation conducted by the Polish peculiar Services and the interior safety Agency, there was evidence of intentional arson. Moreover, the information obtained allowed the recognition of respective persons active in the incident, any of whom were detained. The most shocking component was the uncovering that the actions were coordinated with Russian territory, and behind the full operation were agents of Russian intelligence.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk, in a peculiar press address, stressed the importance of the case. He pointed out that Poland cannot tolerate a situation in which a abroad state conducts diversionary activities in its territory. It's not just an act of sabotage. This is an act of aggression," said Tusk, adding that Russia's actions bear the signs of a hybrid war. Minister of abroad Affairs Radosław Sikorski informed about the immediate decision to retreat his consent to the activities of the Russian consulate in Krakow, stressing that Poland will not stand by and look at threats to its interior security.
The closure of the consulate in Krakow was not the first specified decision by the Polish authorities. Already in October 2024 Poland closed the Russian consulate in Poznań. At the time it was about connections between officers of the Russian services and an effort to set fire to a chemical plant in Wrocław. This incident, although it did not end in tragedy, besides caused large tensions on the Warsaw–Moscow line.
In the face of repeated cases of Russian provocation, Poland began taking steps to limit the activity of Russian services in its territory. presently Russia has only 2 diplomatic missions in Poland – an embassy in Warsaw and a consulate in Gdańsk. The number of Russian diplomats has been importantly reduced and those remaining are closely monitored.
Moscow's consequence to the actions of the Polish government was predictable. A spokesperson for the Russian MFA Maria Zacharowa accused Poland of "intended demolition of bilateral relations" and "community actions against the Russian Federation and its citizens". She besides announced retaliatory steps without giving details. The Kremlin's state media began to spread a communicative according to which Poland operates with inspiration from the United States and the European Union, implementing aggressive policies towards Russia.
In fact, however, the actions of the Polish government aim primarily at protecting their own territory and citizens. In the face of expanding cases of sabotage, disinformation and cyber attacks, Poland, like another countries in the region, is beginning to see the request to respond not only with words but besides with actions. Minister Sikorski addressed partners from the European Union and NATO with a proposal to limit the freedom of movement of Russian diplomats in the Schengen area. specified a step would hinder their espionage and operational logistics.
It is worth noting that Poland is not the only 1 experiencing aggressive actions from Russia in fresh months. In March 2025, the Lithuanian prosecutors announced that there was an effort to set fire to the IKEA store in Vilnius, organized by agents of Russian peculiar services. In the Czech Republic, in April of the same year, a akin incidental occurred in 1 of the large factories in Brno. All of this seems to be part of a broader script of conducting diversion operations in the European Union and NATO countries, which is to sow chaos and anxiety.
For Poland, these events supply further evidence that the war in Ukraine is only part of a larger conflict, whose fronts besides extend to countries of Central and east Europe. Although there are no bombs and tanks, the actions of the Russian forces bear all the signs of war – but that it is simply a war waged in the shadows, without the word spoken, but with real consequences.
The social dimension of the Marivil fire 44 is besides important. Many families lost their lives, and many of them are members of the Vietnamese national number in Poland. This case caused a immense stir both in the local environment and in Poland's relations with Vietnam. Warsaw emphasizes that it is solidarity with all the victims, and the municipal and state authorities have begun efforts to aid rebuild business and financial support for victims.
Relations between Poland and Russia are presently at 1 of the worst moments since the end of the Cold War. Diplomatic rhetoric gives way to actions aimed straight at the interests of both countries. Russian diversionary actions are clearly seen as an act of aggression, and Poland's consequence – although decisive – inactive falls within the framework of global law and diplomatic practices.
However, it is hard to defy the impression that the border has already been crossed. Attacks on civilian infrastructure, sabotage actions, attempts to destabilise society – all of this consists of a image of a fresh kind of war, in which the main nonsubjective is not military, but society. And the answer must be not only the mobilisation of services, but besides the consolidation of society around values specified as security, sovereignty and solidarity.
Further fates of Polish-Russian relations are hard to predict. Retaliatory steps can be expected from Moscow – possibly besides closing diplomatic posts, limiting economical contacts or further provocations. Poland is preparing for these scenarios, developing cooperation with NATO partners, strengthening the protection of critical infrastructure and expanding interior safety spending.
The fire of Marivilska 44 will be remembered not only as a tragedy with a large material dimension, but besides as a symbolic turning point – the minute erstwhile Poland set a clear border towards Russian aggression conducted under cover of diplomacy and peculiar operations. It is besides a signal to the remainder of Europe that safety is not something obvious, but something to fight for all day.
