Poland blames Russia for major fire in Warsaw

In connection with a fire in a shopping center in Warsaw last year, Poland accused Russian secret services of Sabotage. “We now know with certainty that the big fire in the Marywilska shopping center in Warsaw was caused by arson, which was ordered by the Russian special services”.

In a joint statement by the Polish judicial and the Ministry of the Interior, it was said on Sunday that some of the alleged perpetrators were already in custody. In other ways, identity was determined, but they were still at large. “Their actions were organized and managed by a certain person with residence in the Russian Federation,” said the two ministries. They added that they worked with the neighboring country of Lithuania, “where some of the perpetrators also had diversion maneuvers”.

In May 2024, a fire had destroyed a large shopping center in Warsaw and the approximately 1400 shops in it. The authorities immediately initiated an investigation, but so far refused to accuse Moscow.

The tensions between Russia and NATO member Poland have massively intensified since the beginning of the Russian aggression war against Ukraine in February 2022. Both sides have shown dozens of diplomats and each ordered the closure of consulates.

Poland has been a loyal ally of Ukraine and an important transit point for western weapons that have been delivered to Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict. Warsaw has accused Moscow of being attempts to spy and sabotage on his territory.