Poland has moved to close Russia's last remaining consulate on its territory in Gdańsk, citing an alleged "act of state terrorism" following a explosion on a key railway line. Moscow has denied any involvement, with the Kremlin dismissing the accusations as baseless "Russophobia" and promising reciprocal diplomatic measures.
Polish authorities state that the explosive device was placed on the Warsaw-Lublin railway line, a crucial route for aid to Ukraine. Prime Minister Donald Tusk labeled the incident an "unprecedented act of sabotage," noting that the clear intention was to cause a rail catastrophe. Following the incident, Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski announced the closure of the Russian consulate in Gdańsk, marking the final such facility in Poland after previous closures in Kraków and Poznań. Sikorski stated he would also urge EU allies to restrict the travel of Russian diplomats within the Schengen free-travel area.
The Kremlin has consistently rejected all accusations of orchestrating the sabotage. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that relations with Poland have "completely deteriorated" and attributed the allegations to widespread "Russophobia". He asserted that it has become routine for Russia to be blamed for any incident in Poland, and confirmed that Moscow would respond in kind by reducing Poland's diplomatic presence in Russia. This perspective frames Poland's actions as a deliberate campaign to sever diplomatic ties.
Polish investigators identified two Ukrainian citizens as the primary suspects, who they allege have long collaborated with Russian intelligence services and subsequently fled to Belarus. Officials also reported several other detentions linked to the blast. This event occurs amidst what some analysts describe as a broader campaign of hybrid warfare, which Western nations believe is aimed at destabilizing European support for Ukraine. Some experts suggest that such actions are designed to sow panic and anti-Ukrainian sentiment within Polish society. Russian commentators have framed Poland's defensive actions and alignment with Western defense initiatives as aggressive and conspiratorial, potentially positioning Poland as a future adversary in Russian propaganda narratives.