DISINFO: Russia must close all NATO consulates in Kaliningrad because of espionage
SUMMARY
The Russian Foreign Ministry has announced the closure of the Consulate of Poland in Kaliningrad – it was Moscow’s response to the reduction of Russian consular presence in Poland. Incidentally, the Lithuanian Consulate is still operating in Kaliningrad. Why is it still there - to spread the agent network? There should be no diplomats from NATO countries in the Kaliningrad region.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation suggesting aggressive plans of the West regarding the Kaliningrad region and the Western attempts to “encircle Russia”.
On 11 July 2025, the Russian MFA stated its decision to close down the Polish Consulate in Kaliningrad in reaction to Poland’s decision to shut down a Russian consulate in Kraków. According to the Polish MFA, the Russian decision to close the Polish Consulate in Kaliningrad is not right as “Poland, unlike Russia, doesn’t carry out sabotage actions, doesn’t launch cyberattacks and doesn’t act against the Russian state”.
On 12 May 2025, the Polish authorities announced the closing of the Russian Consulate in Kraków in response to the arson of a large shopping mall in Warsaw in May 2024. According to the words of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, “We already know for sure that the large fire at Marywilska was the result of arson ordered by the Russian security services”.
The Lithuanian Consulate in Kaliningrad functions as a bridge for communication and services. There is no credible public evidence that the Lithuanian Consulate in Kaliningrad is being used to “spread the agent network” or for illicit activities. Such claims are speculative and fit a pattern of disinformation that seeks to delegitimise normal diplomatic functions.
Read more disinformation cases about alleged Western attempts to destabilise the Kaliningrad region here.