The incident has further strained diplomatic relations between Poland and Russia, with Poland taking action against Russian diplomatic missions.
**Poland Accuses Russia of Orchestrating Warsaw Shopping Centre Fire Using Telegram**
**Poland Accuses Russia of Orchestrating Warsaw Shopping Centre Fire Using Telegram**
Polish officials claim evidence links Russia to the recruitment of arsonists for a devastating fire that destroyed a key shopping centre.
Poland's foreign minister has revealed significant evidence suggesting that Russia played a role in the devastating fire that consumed the Marywilska shopping centre last year in Warsaw. In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Radek Sikorski detailed that individuals were recruited via the Telegram messaging platform to carry out the act of arson, marking the incident as part of a broader pattern of hybrid warfare allegedly employed by Moscow. Sikorski stressed the gravity of these actions, branding them "completely unacceptable," and confirmed that Poland's response included the closure of a second Russian consulate in Krakow as part of efforts to mitigate Russian espionage in the country.
The massive fire, which occurred in May 2024, devastated approximately 1,400 businesses, many of which were owned by members of the Vietnamese community in Warsaw. Sikorski indicated that it was mere luck that casualties were avoided during the fire, which prompted a year-long investigation that concluded Russian intelligence services were behind the planning.
In response, Russian officials vehemently denied the allegations, labeling them as unfounded and indicative of Polish “Russophobia”. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the claims and criticized Poland's decision to sever ties, stating that such actions only exacerbate the strained relations between the two nations.
Within Poland, sentiments have increasingly shifted against Russian presence following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, prompting arrests and convictions of several individuals tied to Russian intelligence for acts of sabotage. The Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, assured citizens that the investigation has led to arrests and that those responsible for the fire have been identified, further signifying Poland's commitment to addressing these suspected acts of aggression.
Meanwhile, the foreign ministry in Moscow rebuffed allegations of wrongdoing, accusing Poland of deliberately deteriorating ties and acting against the interests of its citizens, while insisting that such accusations against Russia are unfounded. As tensions continue to escalate, Poland cautions that further measures may be enacted if these hybrid attacks persist.
The massive fire, which occurred in May 2024, devastated approximately 1,400 businesses, many of which were owned by members of the Vietnamese community in Warsaw. Sikorski indicated that it was mere luck that casualties were avoided during the fire, which prompted a year-long investigation that concluded Russian intelligence services were behind the planning.
In response, Russian officials vehemently denied the allegations, labeling them as unfounded and indicative of Polish “Russophobia”. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the claims and criticized Poland's decision to sever ties, stating that such actions only exacerbate the strained relations between the two nations.
Within Poland, sentiments have increasingly shifted against Russian presence following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, prompting arrests and convictions of several individuals tied to Russian intelligence for acts of sabotage. The Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, assured citizens that the investigation has led to arrests and that those responsible for the fire have been identified, further signifying Poland's commitment to addressing these suspected acts of aggression.
Meanwhile, the foreign ministry in Moscow rebuffed allegations of wrongdoing, accusing Poland of deliberately deteriorating ties and acting against the interests of its citizens, while insisting that such accusations against Russia are unfounded. As tensions continue to escalate, Poland cautions that further measures may be enacted if these hybrid attacks persist.
