 "Poland to shut last Russian consulate over rail sabotage claims; Kremlin says 'nothing to do with common sense'")
Poland will close Russia’s last operating consulate in the country, a move that immediately drew criticism from the Kremlin, following allegations that two Ukrainian citizens working for Moscow were involved in sabotaging a railway line, Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski announced Wednesday.
According to an Associated Press report, citing the Polish news agency PAP, Sikorski said he had repeatedly warned Moscow that its diplomatic presence in Poland would be further reduced if it continued what he called hostile actions.
“In connection with this, though it will not be our full response, I have decided to withdraw consent for the operation of the last Russian consulate in Gdańsk,” Sikorski said, adding that Russia would receive formal notification within hours.
Once the closure takes effect, Russia will retain only its embassy in Warsaw.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk has described the weekend explosion on a rail line linking Warsaw to the Ukrainian border as an “unprecedented act of sabotage.” On Monday, he told lawmakers that the two suspects had long collaborated with Russian intelligence services. Their identities remain undisclosed due to the ongoing investigation, and authorities believe both have fled into Belarus.
The incident comes amid a series of alleged Russian-backed attacks and covert operations across Europe since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago, according to data compiled by The Associated Press. Western officials say such operations are aimed at weakening support for Kyiv and sowing fear and division within European societies.
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View AllKremlin slams decision
The Kremlin on Wednesday criticised Warsaw’s decision to close the Gdańsk consulate, calling it irrational and politically motivated.
“Relations with Poland have completely deteriorated,” Reuters quoted Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov as saying.
“This is probably a manifestation of this deterioration — the Polish authorities’ desire to reduce any possibility of consular or diplomatic relations to zero. One can only express regret here… This has nothing to do with common sense,” he added.
Russian officials have rejected Poland’s accusations, dismissing them as “Russophobia.”
With inputs from agencies
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