After two alleged acts of sabotage on Poland’s railway line to Ukraine, the Polish government announced the closure of the Russian consulate in the northern port city of Gdansk. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski told reporters on Wednesday that he had decided to “withdraw approval” from Russia’s diplomatic mission in Gdansk. This means that the Russian Embassy in Warsaw remains Moscow’s sole diplomatic representation in Poland.
The Kremlin announced similar steps in light of the Warsaw decision. “As a countermeasure, Russia will reduce Poland’s diplomatic and consular presence in Russia,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, according to Russian state media.
On Saturday and Monday, the railway line between Warsaw and Lublin, used to transport aid supplies to Ukraine, was sabotaged. In one case, a train may have derailed due to a steel device on the tracks. However, a train driver had raised the alarm. In another case, an explosive device detonated as a freight train was passing by. No one was injured at that time.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk made two Ukrainian citizens assigned by Moscowwhich “has a long history of collaborating with Russian services,” for the two acts of sabotage responsible. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) also suspects Russia of responsibility behind the action. The incident is linked to “a series of acts of sabotage that we also saw in Germany.” The Kremlin accused Polish authorities of “hostility to Russia.” Poland is an important center for sending aid and weapons to Ukraine.
