Poland Closes Russian Consulate in Krakow Over GRU-Linked Arson Plot

Poland has ordered the closure of the Russian Federation’s consulate in Krakow following the discovery of Russian intelligence involvement in an arson attack on a Warsaw shopping center.

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski announced the decision, citing evidence that the agents of Russia’s military intelligence agency, the GRU, had orchestrated the attack.

The fire occurred on May 12, 2024, and was initially described by Prime Minister Donald Tusk as lacking the clear signs of sabotage.

However, by the end of that month, Tusk acknowledged that deliberate arson could not be ruled out.

It was the most serious in a string of arson attacks reported across Poland.

According to the Polish prosecutor’s office, one of the key suspects, Danylo B., allegedly received the instructions from Russian operatives to film the fire and the emergency response, then send the footage to Russia for use in propaganda.

Another suspect, Oleksandr V., is accused of coordinating the filming operation. Both are believed to have been part of a broader network planning arson attacks on high-profile targets in EU countries to spread fear among the population.

Danylo B. is currently detained in Lithuania and faces the charges of conducting foreign intelligence activities against Poland and committing sabotage with terrorist intent.

Charges have also been filed against Oleksandr V., but he remains at large in Russia.

In February 2025, Polish and allied intelligence agencies disclosed that the GRU had formed a new division in 2023 focused on sabotage operations in Europe.

The unit, known by the abbreviation SSD, is suspected of orchestrating a series of high-profile incidents, including the placement of incendiary devices on DHL cargo aircraft and attempted arsons in cities such as Leipzig and Warsaw.

The SSD is believed to have three core missions: carrying out assassinations and sabotage abroad, infiltrating Western institutions, and recruiting foreign agents.

The European Union and the United States have imposed sanctions on several SSD operatives, accusing them of organizing attempted coups, targeted killings, and cyberattacks across Europe.