Poland shrugs off Russian threats after closing Gdańsk consulate

Moscow has warned of “painful” retaliatory measures after Poland shut down Russia’s consulate in Gdańsk, with Warsaw defending the decision as a response to alleged Russian sabotage operations and broader security threats linked to the Kremlin.

Speaking to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, Alexei Klimov, director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Consular Department, warned that any actions targeting Russian diplomatic missions in Poland would trigger a response from Moscow. The reaction comes against the backdrop of the closure of Russia’s consulate in Gdańsk, which had operated in the northern Polish city since the 1950s.

Poland to close Russian consulate, deploy soldiers after railway sabotage

“Polish rhetoric concerning claims against Russian diplomatic property is well known,” Klimov said, adding that Russia’s response would be “quite painful”.

Meanwhile, Gdańsk authorities are pursuing legal action to regain full control of the former consulate premises. Deputy Mayor Emilia Lodzińska announced earlier this year that the city would seek intervention from the Prosecutor General’s Office if Russia continued to refuse cooperation.

According to city officials, Russian representatives have denied Polish authorities access to the property and have failed to pay fees related to its long-term use.

Daniel Stenzel, spokesperson for Gdańsk Mayor Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, said debt recovery proceedings were ongoing and that enforcement measures had already been initiated. The outstanding amount currently exceeds PLN 2.22 million (€520,000), covering what Polish authorities describe as unauthorised use of the property up to the end of 2025.

However, he suggested that Polish authorities were aware of the consequences and argued that statements by Gdańsk officials were primarily aimed at a domestic political audience.

Sabotage warning

The issue in Gdansk has also become entangled with broader security concerns. Prime Minister Donald Tusk recently informed the Sejm that acts of sabotage on the Warsaw–Lublin railway line had been carried out by two Ukrainian nationals allegedly cooperating with Russian intelligence services.

The Russian diplomat Alexai Klimov also sought to emphasise Moscow’s historical ties to Gdańsk, claiming that Russia’s consular presence in the city dated back to the reign of Tsar Peter the Great. He further argued that Russia had owned property in the city long before the Second World War and asserted that Gdańsk became part of post-war Poland thanks to decisions taken by Soviet authorities.

The dispute intensified after Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski withdrew permission for the Russian consulate in Gdańsk to continue operating. Warsaw linked the move to acts of sabotage allegedly carried out on behalf of Russia inside Poland, particularly against railway infrastructure.

Despite the closure, Sikorski stressed that Poland was not seeking to sever diplomatic relations with Russia.

Moscow has continued to contest the decision, maintaining that the former consulate building is Russian property. Polish authorities reject this claim, arguing that the villa located at Batory Street 13 and 15 is owned by the Polish State Treasury.

At the time, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed Warsaw’s actions as lacking “common sense”.

Russian officials insist that the site should be regarded as compensation for an earlier Russian consular building in Gdańsk, originally acquired in 1716 on the orders of Tsar Peter I. That property remained in Russian hands until June 1941, following the outbreak of war between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.

Polish authorities reject this argument. Lodzińska told Onet that land registry records clearly identify the State Treasury as the legal owner of both properties and that Russian claims are not supported by any valid legal documentation.

The diplomatic row comes amid steadily deteriorating relations between Warsaw and Moscow since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Poland has emerged as one of Kyiv’s strongest supporters within the EU and NATO, while repeatedly accusing Russia of conducting sabotage, espionage and influence operations on Polish territory.

Tensions have been further heightened by a series of security incidents linked to Russia.

The killings

Earlier this week, Polish authorities investigate the killing of Russian dissident artist Robert Kuzovkov, known by his pseudonym Semyon Skrepetsky, who was shot dead near his home in the eastern city of Biała Podlaska, close to the Belarusian border.

The outspoken Kremlin critic, known for his satirical depictions of Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials, was killed in what prosecutors described as a targeted attack. Two Belarusian nationals have been detained as part of the investigation, while Poland’s Internal Security Agency is assisting prosecutors amid concerns that the case may have wider security implications.