Poland has leveled serious accusations against Russian intelligence, claiming that they orchestrated a catastrophic fire that nearly obliterated the Marywilska shopping centre in Warsaw last year. Prime Minister Donald Tusk took to social media platform X, stating that the Polish government is "certain" that the fire was the result of arson directed by Russian special services. Tusk mentioned that several individuals linked to the incident are already in custody, while efforts continue to locate others alleged to have participated.
Moscow has not issued a response to these latest allegations but has historically denied involvement in sabotage activities within Europe. The fire, which occurred in May 2024, devastated approximately 1,400 small businesses, severely impacting many of the employees, particularly from Warsaw's Vietnamese community. Following a comprehensive year-long investigation, Polish officials concluded that the fire was orchestrated by an unidentified individual located in Russia.
In a collaborative statement, Poland’s justice and interior ministers indicated that those arrested acted under the direction of a person residing in the Russian Federation and confirmed ongoing cooperation with Lithuania, where some suspects allegedly undertook similar acts of sabotage. Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Poland has detained several individuals accused of carrying out sabotage on behalf of Russian intelligence, framing these incidents as part of a broader "hybrid war" instigated by Moscow against Western nations.
NATO has also recognized the existence of hybrid warfare, believing Russia aims to deter military support to Ukraine through covert attacks. Russia remains adamant in its denial of accusations related to sabotage across Europe. In a related allegation from March, Lithuanian authorities implicated Russia’s military intelligence in an arson attack on an Ikea store in Vilnius, reinforcing Warsaw’s suspicions regarding Russian involvement in such operations.
The Marywilska shopping centre, which opened in 2010, was a hub for commerce where entrepreneurs kept important documents and cash due to concerns about burglary at home. In response to the fire, the owners opened a temporary centre three months later, allowing around 400 traders to resume operations, and a new permanent venue, Modlinska 6D, was established later in October 2024, offering a pathway for displaced businesses to continue serving the community.
