Poland made a move; Russia announced brutal revenge

"Today, in the presence of Polish Ambassador to Russia Krzysztof Krajewski, the closing ceremony of the consular representation of the Republic of Poland in St. Petersburg was held," announced the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in St. Petersburg, PAP reports.

In the statement, they express their gratitude to "all Polish diplomats for whom this has been a long-term place of mission in very difficult conditions" in the last three years.

Ambassador Krajewski expressed the hope that the Polish consular representation will return to Saint Petersburg in "better times".

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminded that Polish representative offices in Moscow, Kaliningrad and Irkutsk are still working in Russia. Earlier, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski announced that he had decided to close one of the three Russian consulates in Poland, in response to "acts of sabotage by Moscow".

At the end of October last year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs withdrew its approval for the operation of the representative office in Poznań due to, as stated, Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the Kremlin's hybrid actions towards EU countries. Sikorski then said that the ministry had information that Russia was behind sabotage attempts in Poland and allied countries.

In a statement published a month ago, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that "in accordance with the principle of reciprocity, three members of the diplomatic staff of the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in St. Petersburg have been declared 'persone non grata' and must leave Russian territory" by the 10th of January. The Russian Ministry accused the Polish authorities of conducting an "openly hostile policy towards Russia.

Moscow has announced that it will respond with "harsh retaliation" to all hostile steps taken by Warsaw.

Sikorski pointed out that Russia has no right to react in this way, because Poland's decision to close the consulate in Poznań is a reaction to Russian sabotage in Poland.

"We do not commit arson or sabotage in Russia. However, everyone knows what Russia is like, so this is not an unexpected action," the head of Polish diplomacy concluded.