Poland has moved to further curtail Russia’s diplomatic presence, announcing the closure of the Russian consulate in Gdańsk amid escalating concerns over sabotage and intelligence activity. Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Radosław Sikorski announced the decision, describing it as a necessary step in response to what Warsaw views as increasingly aggressive operations directed from Moscow.

Speaking at a press briefing, Sikorski said that Poland had issued numerous warnings to the Kremlin in recent months, urging it to halt destabilising actions on Polish territory. Instead, he argued, Russian activity had intensified, with recent incidents suggesting that some operations were designed to inflict civilian casualties.

“When covert operations cross the line into endangering human life, we are no longer dealing merely with espionage. This is state-sponsored terrorism,” Sikorski told reporters. 

According to the minister, the withdrawal of consent for the Gdańsk consulate’s continued operation marks a significant escalation in Poland’s diplomatic response, although more measures are expected.

The official notification of closure is set to be delivered to Russia within hours. The Gdańsk mission was the last functioning Russian consulate in Poland following earlier expulsions and staff reductions, leaving the Russian Embassy in Warsaw as Moscow’s sole remaining diplomatic foothold.

Sikorski’s announcement came shortly after he addressed the Polish parliament on a series of sabotage attempts targeting the country’s railway network, incidents which the government attributes to Russian intelligence services.

The decision reflects a broader hardening of Poland’s stance as tensions between the two countries continue to build, driven by Russia’s war in Ukraine, cyberattacks, and repeated attempts to destabilise its infrastructure and security environment.

Source: PAP

Photo:  @visegrad24/X

Tomasz Modrzejewski