Poland Accuses Russia of Orchestrating Warsaw Shopping Centre Fire

In a significant development, Poland's foreign minister has accused Russia of orchestrating the massive shopping centre fire in Warsaw that occurred last year, citing evidence of recruitment via the Telegram messaging service. Moscow has denied these allegations, escalating an already strained diplomatic relationship.

Poland's foreign minister, Radek Sikorski, revealed in an exclusive interview with the BBC that the country has gathered substantial evidence indicating that Russia recruited arsonists through the Telegram messaging app to execute the massive shopping centre fire in Warsaw last year. Sikorski condemned these actions as "completely unacceptable," asserting that they reflect a blatant act of hybrid warfare orchestrated by Moscow's intelligence services. As a result, Poland has intensified its diplomatic pressure on Russia by closing a second consulate in Krakow.

The alarming May 2024 fire at the Marywilska shopping centre devastated approximately 1,400 small businesses, predominantly impacting members of Warsaw's Vietnamese community. Sikorski disclosed, "We have proof that individuals residing in Poland were commissioned via Telegram and paid to ignite the fire at this significant mall. Miraculously, there were no casualties, but such actions are intolerable."

In response to the ongoing threat, Sikorski affirmed that Poland would continue to diminish Russia's presence within its borders, stressing the importance of stifling Moscow's espionage capabilities. This downturn follows earlier diplomatic efforts that have already seen Poland close its consulate in Poznań amid allegations of cyber warfare and sabotage directed by Russian operatives. Currently, only one Russian consulate remains operational alongside the embassy.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov vehemently denied the accusations, branding them as "Russophobic" fabrications. He criticized Poland for fostering a hostile and unfriendly atmosphere, which he believes exacerbates bilateral relations. Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson echoed these sentiments, accusing Poland of jeopardizing citizen interests through these politically charged decisions.

Since the onset of Russia's full invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Polish authorities have thwarted numerous plots linked to Russian sabotage, leading to several arrests. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that while some suspects are in custody, efforts continue to identify and apprehend others involved in the arson attack.

Following the fire, many businesses faced considerable losses, both in cash and important documentation abandoned in the chaos due to fears of burglary. In October of the previous year, a new shopping centre, Modlinska 6D, commenced operations, allowing traders to resume their businesses in a safer environment.