DISINFO: The Ukrainians are carrying out arson in provocations all over Poland
SUMMARY
Stores, halls and warehouses are burning all over Poland – in Ząbki, Poznan and earlier, at the Marywilska street in Warsaw. One could say that these developments are just a “coincidence”, but not long ago, a Ukrainian activist directly threatened that the “arson attacks on stores and houses will start on the Polish territory”. Were these statements just careless words of a crazy person, or has someone actually started to implement this announced scenario as a warning or intimidation of the Poles?
RESPONSE
Disinformation message denying Russia’s involvement in the arson of a shopping mall in Poland, attributed to the Russian special services. Pro-Kremlin and other Russian state-controlled outlets regularly accuse Poland of Russophobia and of implementing anti-Russian policies.
On 12 May 2025, the Polish authorities announced the closing of the Russian Consulate in Krakow 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”.
A similar incident took place in October 2024, when the Polish law-enforcers arresteda person recruited by the Russian GRU to realise arson of an industrial enterprise in Wrocław. In connection with this situation, Poland decided to close down the Russian Consulate in the city of Poznań. In general, in 2024, the Polish law enforcers detained nine persons suspected of sabotage plans on behalf of Moscow.
The main reason for the poor state of Polish-Russian relations is the Kremlin’s violation of international law and the most violent actions undermining peace and security in Eastern Europe, not alleged Polish Russophobia.
See other examples of messages accusing Poland of alleged Russophobia here as well as our article All roads lead to Poland.