Poland has announced that it will close Russia’s last consulate in Gdansk and push for new restrictions on Russian diplomats across Europe, following a railway explosion Warsaw blames on Moscow. Authorities say two Ukrainians working with Russian intelligence carried out the attack before fleeing to Belarus.
Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski stated that the closure marks the first step in Poland’s response, and further actions will follow due to what he described as “state terrorism.” He noted that previous Russian consulates in Krakow and Poznan were already shut over sabotage-related concerns.
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Moreover, Sikorski said he will ask European Union partners to limit Russian diplomatic travel within the Schengen free-movement zone, arguing that Moscow should not benefit from freedoms it seeks to undermine. He also warned that more measures are planned if hostile activities continue.
Moscow has denied involvement in the railway blast, accusing Poland of promoting “Russophobia,” while also threatening to restrict Polish consular presence in Russia. However, Warsaw maintains that the explosion directly targeted its critical infrastructure and was linked to Russian aggression.
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Poland and EU allies have long accused Russia and Belarus of fueling tensions by driving migrants toward European borders. Additionally, officials noted that several other suspects have been detained in connection with the sabotage, though details remain limited due to ongoing investigations.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, European countries have reported a surge in arson, cyberattacks, and infrastructure sabotage, with Polish security services warning that these threats are continuing to rise across the region.