Poland Accuses Russia of Orchestrating Shopping Centre Fire via Telegram Recruitment

Poland's Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski claims evidence supports that Russia recruited arsonists via social media for the massive fire that destroyed a key shopping centre. Moscow denies these accusations, labeling them as unfounded and Russophobic.

Poland's foreign minister, Radek Sikorski, has stated in a recent interview with the BBC that the country possesses evidence suggesting that Russia orchestrated a massive fire at a shopping centre in Warsaw last year. Reports indicate that individuals were allegedly recruited through the Telegram messaging platform to execute this act of arson. Sikorski condemned these actions as "completely unacceptable" and noted that as a direct result, Poland has closed a second Russian consulate.

The fire, which occurred in May 2024 at the Marywilska shopping centre, destroyed approximately 1,400 small businesses and significantly impacted the local Vietnamese community employed there. "We have evidence that they commissioned people living in Poland, they commissioned them on Telegram and paid them to set fire to this huge shopping mall," Sikorski stated. Thankfully, he added, there were no injuries resulting from the incident.

This accusation follows a Polish investigation concluding that Moscow's intelligence services were behind the fire. In response, Russia has refuted these claims, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov suggesting that such allegations stem from a "Russophobic" sentiment in Poland.

Sikorski also underscored the need to limit Russia’s presence in Poland, noting the closure of the consulate in Krakow to mitigate Moscow's ability to spy on Polish activities. "We will take further decisions if they continue these hybrid attacks," he asserted. Hybrid warfare refers to covert acts that harm an opponent's infrastructure while remaining difficult to attribute directly.

Current diplomatic ties have been strained, with only one Russian consulate now operational in Poland. The Poznań consulate was closed last year following accusations of sabotage and cyber threats. When questioned about severing all diplomatic relations, Sikorski expressed hope for a more measured approach.

In the wake of the closure of the Krakow consulate, Peskov dismissed the allegations, labeling them as "groundless." He emphasized that such moves escalate tensions in already declining bilateral relations.

Since the onset of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Poland has proactively detained numerous individuals linked to alleged sabotage activities for Russian intelligence. In a statement, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that some suspects are already in custody, while others have been identified as ongoing investigations continue.

The fire resulted in substantial losses for traders, including loss of essential documents and cash meant for business transactions. In response, another shopping centre, Modlinska 6D, has been inaugurated to accommodate displaced vendors.