Warsaw accuses Russian intelligence of sabotage in 2024 shopping mall fire, escalating already strained ties
By Joe D.
WARSAW, 12 May, 2025 – Citing solid proof that Russian intelligence was behind the catastrophic fire that destroyed a major shopping centre in Warsaw last year, Poland said Monday it will close the Russian consulate in Krakow. As Warsaw ramps up its reaction to what it calls Moscow’s covert aggression, the action signals another significant decline in diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Directly from Poland’s Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, who said his office had “withdrawn consent” for the consulate’s ongoing functioning, the announcement came. The closure follows Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s comments over the weekend, claiming Polish authorities are now “certain” that Russia’s special services planned the May 2024 arson attack on the Marywilska Street shopping center—a large fire that left economic scars and public anger in its wake.
Evidence Suggests Russian Sabotage
While Polish authorities have not made thorough information public, they have verified that intelligence collected over the last year—including forensic analysis and intercepted communications—points to intentional foreign disruption.
The event on Marywilska Street was not unique. Three days before the Warsaw incident, Russian agents were charged by Lithuania in March 2024 with igniting an IKEA store in Vilnius. Moscow has always denied any participation in each situation, but Warsaw officials claim the trend is too obvious to overlook.
A top Polish security officer speaking on background remarked, “It’s not only a fire.” “It was an attack on civilian infrastructure designed to disrupt economic stability and provoke fear.”
Latest Krakow Consulate to Close
The Krakow shutdown is not the first time Poland has done such a thing. Amid comparable claims of spying and sabotage, the authorities closed the Russian consulate in Poznan in October 2024. Russia responded by shutting down the Polish consulate in St. Petersburg.
Russia is now left with its embassy in Warsaw and a consulate in Gdansk, Krakow office gone. Polish authorities cautioned that further closures might follow if antagonistic activities persist.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry denounced the action as politically driven and said it will respond with “appropriate measures.” State news agency RIA cited spokesperson Maria Zakharova charging Poland with “deliberately ruining ties” with Moscow.
Poland orders the closure of the Russian consulate in Krakow after saying it has proof that a large fire in Warsaw last year was ordered by Moscow’s secret services https://t.co/iTiad1AzV3
— Bloomberg (@business) May 12, 2025
Wider Diplomatic Consequences
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, ties between Poland and Russia have been severely strained as Poland has grown to be one of Kyiv’s most outspoken supporters and a vital logistical center for Western assistance. Warsaw has consistently spoken of increasing dangers from Russian hybrid warfare strategies, cyberattacks, and false information campaigns.
Dr. Marta Zielinska, a geopolitical expert at the Polish Institute of Foreign Affairs, stated, “Poland views itself as a frontline state in Europe’s battle against Russian influence.” “Closing consulates is a symbolic but powerful act; it sends the message that covert hostility will not be tolerated.”
Strategic and Financial Consequences
Particularly for those depending on consular services in Krakow, the consulate closure might have ripple implications for Russian nationals and enterprises operating in southern Poland. Visa requests, paperwork processing, and cultural interactions are probably going to be affected.
But more importantly, this action shows Poland’s willingness to face what it considers a new kind of Cold War—one characterized not by open war but by espionage operations and proxy sabotage.
Poland’s actions could inspire other countries to examine the operations of Russian diplomatic posts on their territory since NATO and EU allies already cautious of comparable events.
Also Read: Trump undermines allies by supporting Putin’s Ukraine talks.
Poland’s Increasing Influence in European Security
Since the Ukraine crisis started, Poland has been slowly claiming its role as a regional power by investing much in defense and supporting transatlantic unity. The closing of the Krakow consulate not only punishes Russia but also supports Poland’s proactive and forceful membership of the Western alliance in line with that geopolitical objective.
This also sends a message to domestic audiences that the government is visibly and forcefully acting against national security concerns.
Final thoughts
Shutting down Russia’s embassy in Krakow is more than a diplomatic formality; it’s a deliberate action in a larger conflict. The gulf between Warsaw and Moscow shows no sign of repairing as Poland draws more obvious red lines against Russian meddling.
In contemporary geopolitics, burning could burn long after the flames are gone. For Poland, the Marywilska fire was more than arson; it was a covert act of war.
