Poland Alleges Russian Involvement in Devastating Warsaw Shopping Centre Fire

In an exclusive BBC interview, Poland's foreign minister revealed evidence suggesting that Russia orchestrated a major fire at a Warsaw shopping centre by recruiting local arsonists through Telegram. This incident has escalated tensions, leading Poland to shut down a second Russian consulate in response.

Poland has put forth serious allegations against Russia, claiming that Kremlin-backed individuals were recruited via social media to set ablaze the Marywilska shopping centre in Warsaw in May 2024. In an exclusive discussion with the BBC, Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski stated that they possess evidence indicating that these recruits were compensated for their actions, categorizing Moscow’s interference as “completely unacceptable.” The fire, which devastated around 1,400 small businesses, primarily impacted employees within the Vietnamese community in Warsaw.

Sikorski emphasized the precariousness of the situation, noting, "It was by miracle that nobody was hurt," while insisting that Poland's diplomatic measures were necessary. In light of these events, Poland has decided to further reduce Russia’s diplomatic presence by closing the consulate in Krakow, reducing the number of operational Russian diplomatic missions in the country to just one alongside its embassy.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed Poland's accusations as "Russophobic," asserting that they were devoid of any substantiated basis and that Poland continues to foster an unfriendly stance. Meanwhile, since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Poland has apprehended multiple individuals suspected of acting on behalf of Russian intelligence.

The fire at the shopping centre raised significant concerns, as many workers lost vital personal belongings, including crucial documents and cash, which had been stored in the centre due to fear of home break-ins. Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that authorities have identified a number of suspects linked to the incident and are actively pursuing those implicated.

In an ongoing conflict with Russia over allegations of sabotage and hybrid warfare, Poland's investigation into the shopping centre fire reflects a broader pattern of increasing geopolitical tensions in the region.